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What are cluster alarms?

When a systemic failure occurs (e.g., a power interruption or network outage), assets triggered within the same time frame can be clustered together. This helps reduce alarm fatigue and provides better visibility into the root cause of an issue.

Cluster alarms group multiple asset alarms occurring within a defined time period into a single incident, helping teams identify and respond to a potential shared issue.

Key features include:

  • Detecting when multiple asset alarms within a location or department trigger simultaneously within a configurable time period

  • Creating a single cluster incident that groups all affected assets

  • Sending escalated notifications to users when the cluster triggers/when the cluster resolves

Where to find cluster alarms

Cluster alarms appear on both the dashboard and the incidents page, and each cluster incident card displays the following information:

  • Incident ID number

  • Location – the name of the location or department the cluster covers

  • Cluster name – the alarm name configured in the template

  • Active alarm count – the number of asset alarms currently active within the cluster

  • Incidents closed ratio – the number of incidents that have been resolved out of the total (e.g., 8:10).

  • Impacted assets – the total number of assets that are part of the cluster

  • Latest alarm badge – the most recent alarm type and sensor reading from the asset that was triggered (badge is color-coded by alarm state)

  • Elapsed time – how long the cluster has been open since it triggered

  • Assigned user – the team member assigned to the incident (if one has been set)
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How to set up cluster alarm templates

Super Administrators and Administrators can create and manage cluster alarm templates in the SmartSense web app. Please review your user permissions before attempting to create a cluster alarm template.

  1. Log in to the SmartSense web app and navigate to the admin tab > organization management.
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  2. On the next screen, select the cluster alarms tab.

  3. To create a template, select + new cluster alarm.
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  4. The fields marked with an asterisk are required fields and must be completed to create the cluster alarm template.
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  5. In the within each field, select the location or department to determine how assets are grouped for cluster detection.

  6. Under alarm settings, complete the following fields:

    1. Alarm name: Enter a descriptive name for the cluster alarm

    2. Assets: Enter the minimum number of assets that must alarm to trigger a cluster incident (the minimum is 2)

    3. Triggered within (minutes): Enter the amount of time in which the assets must alarm (the default is 30 minutes)

    4. Severity: Select the severity level

    5. Include gateways: Select this option to include gateways when determining whether the asset threshold has been reached

  7. Under alarm checklist, select a checklist to attach to the cluster incident, or select none.

  8. Under notification settings, configure the notification frequency and alarm delay, then add at least one notification recipient.

  9. For each recipient:

    1. Enter a delay interval (if needed)

    2. Select a contact method (email, phone, push notification, or SMS)

    3. Choose when notifications should be sent

    4. Select notify when alarm is closed to send a notification when the cluster alarm is resolved

  10. Under additional settings, select any applicable options:

    1. Stop notifications after incidents have been acknowledged: Stops repeat notifications after the incident is acknowledged

    2. Automatically close incidents after resolving: Automatically closes the cluster incident after all associated alarms have cleared

  11. Select save to create the template or save + create another to save the template and create another.

  12. When you are back on the cluster alarms tab, you can manage templates as needed. Clicking on the alarm name will take you to the editing screen where you can:

    1. Disable/enable an alarm by clicking the toggle button in the upper-right corner
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    2. Delete an alarm by clicking the delete button at the bottom of the page

    3. Edit the fields within the template (make sure to save before exiting)

How to manage cluster alarms

  1. Log in to the SmartSense web app and navigate to the incidents tab (make sure you have selected the correct location/department).

  2. At the top of the screen, you will see a section for cluster alarms. Cluster alarms are triggered when the configured assets are activated within the detection window (30 minutes by default).
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    Note: Each asset counts once toward the threshold (even if it has multiple active alarms), and assets in maintenance mode are excluded.

  3. Select one of the cards under the cluster incident section to view the assets associated with the event.
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  4. For two hours after the cluster incident is created, additional assets are automatically added to the incident. After the two-hour window closes, new asset alarms are evaluated separately. If the cluster alarm threshold is reached again, SmartSense may create a new cluster incident.

  5. Once the alarms for all assets within the cluster have cleared, SmartSense sends a resolution notification to recipients.

  6. If auto-close is enabled, the cluster incident closes automatically. Otherwise, the incident remains open until it is manually closed.

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