# High Performance SCADA alarming

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/high-performance-scada-alarming/71169>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [March 16, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/high-performance-scada-alarming/71169 "2023-03-16T15:41:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![michael.black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee7513/32.png) [@michael.black](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/michael.black)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/high-performance-scada-alarming/71169/1 "2023-03-16T15:41:40Z")

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I am trying to develop some company standards using the high performance HMI outlook. I can't seem to find anything related to alarm schemes related to colors and flashing/nonflashing related to either ISA/IEEE standards. Can anyone provide some guidance on some standards colors used for alarming?

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**Author:** ![j.israelsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@j.israelsen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/j.israelsen)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/high-performance-scada-alarming/71169/2 "2023-03-16T16:15:57Z")

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A straightforward place to start:  
[https://realpars.com/hmi-colors/](https://realpars.com/hmi-colors/)

A good reference for high performance development:  
[High Performance HMI Handbook](https://a.co/d/bFw3q46)

However, I recommend that you develop such that it is easy to modify these colors and flashing/nonflashing rate. What people find to be "good" for colors and flashing is highly subjective, so you will save yourself a lot of heartache by building in the flexibility upfront.

As one who falls into the "color deficient" realm, I guess I can't "see" what the big deal with color is ( 😆, sorry I couldn't resist). I've found that when you focus on contrast differences primarily then color differences secondarily that people are happier.

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**Author:** ![Matthew\_Gall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbce88/32.png) [@Matthew\_Gall](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Matthew_Gall)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 3:57am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/high-performance-scada-alarming/71169/3 "2023-03-17T03:57:31Z")

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Rockwell has a good style guide with RGB values here:

> **[proces-wp023\_-en-p.pdf](https://literature.rockwellautomation.com/idc/groups/literature/documents/wp/proces-wp023_-en-p.pdf)**
>
> 2.71 MB

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**Author:** ![jlandwerlen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@jlandwerlen](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jlandwerlen)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2023, 11:55am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/high-performance-scada-alarming/71169/4 "2023-03-17T11:55:23Z")

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ANSI/ISA-18.2-2009 (or later) Management of Alarm Systems for the Process Industries takes a deep dive into all things alarms.

Regardless, and what others have stated, develop in a fashion that allows colors to be easily changed and that is on a global scale.