Systems for alarm annunciation

Systems for alarm annunciation, both visual and audible, are used to draw the operators attention to the need for intervention in the operation of the plant by, for example, manual initiation of safety system functions or the initiation of plant control or maintenance actions to ensure that the plant s status is maintained within its design basis envelope. The following guidelines apply to the use of alarm annunciation in connection with systems important to safety. 

Appropriate visual or audible alarms should be provided at suitable locations in a timely manner, consistent with the underlying requirements for operator actions. 

Techniques to avoid overloading the operator with alarm information should not be applied in a manner which leads to suppression of the information necessary for identifying the location and potential consequence of the malfunction. 

Means should be provided that permit the operator to acknowledge the alarms, either singly or in groups, in a timely manner. 

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