Configuring Alarm Views and Message Windows for Comfort Panels in SIMATIC PCS 7 Industry Library

In SIMATIC PCS 7 Industry Library (IL) projects utilizing SIMATIC Comfort Panels (such as the TP 1500 Comfort) engineered via TIA Portal WinCC Comfort, standard PCS 7 split-screen alarm banners ('New List' and 'Old List') are implemented using the native 'Alarm View' (Meldeanzeige) control. To display alarms identically to PCS 7, engineers configure dedicated Alarm View controls mapped to specific alarm states ('Pending alarms' for New List and 'Alarm buffer' for Chronological/Old List) and filter display lines by Industry Library message classes (Alarm High, Warning High, Operating Message) as documented in Siemens Application Guide Entry ID 50708061.

PCS 7 Industry Library for Comfort Panels Architecture

The SIMATIC PCS 7 Industry Library (IL) extends standard PCS 7 functionality by bridging process control controllers (S7-400 / CPU 410-5H) with distributed local operator panels (e.g. TP 1500 Comfort 6AV2124-0QC02-0AX0).

In this hybrid architecture:
* Technological blocks (e.g., IL_MotL, IL_VlvL) execute in the S7-400 AS.
* A central WinCC OS Server handles primary SCADA visualization.
* Local machine-side Comfort Panels provide ruggedized touch visualization in field environments (e.g. packaging skids, centrifuge local controls), engineered via TIA Portal WinCC Comfort / Advanced.

Replicating PCS 7 Alarm Philosophies on TIA Portal Panels

A frequent hurdle for commissioning engineers is providing operators with the familiar PCS 7 alarm layout:
* In PCS 7 WinCC Classic: Operators rely on separate alarm lists: Incoming / Unacknowledged (New List), Acknowledged (Old List), and Chronological Archive.
* In TIA Portal WinCC Comfort: There is no pre-built split-screen @AlarmNew.pdl. Instead, engineers instantiate the modular Alarm View (Meldeanzeige) control and configure its operating mode properties to mimic PCS 7 lists.

Configuring Alarm Views for New List, Old List, and History

According to official guidelines in Integration of Comfort Panels in SIMATIC PCS 7 (SIOS Entry ID 50708061, Chapter 4.5.7):

[TIA Portal -> WinCC Comfort Screen Editor]
   │
   ├─► Open Alarm Screen -> Drag & Drop: "Alarm View" from Controls Palette
   │
   ├─► Screen 1: "Incoming / New List" (Aktuelle Meldungen)
   │     • Properties -> General -> Display: Select "Pending alarms"
   │     • Alarm state: Check [x] "Unacknowledged" (Incoming & Unacknowledged)
   │     • Show acknowledge button on toolbar
   │
   ├─► Screen 2: "Acknowledged / Old List"
   │     • Properties -> General -> Display: Select "Pending alarms"
   │     • Alarm state: Check [x] "Acknowledged" (Still active but acknowledged)
   │
   └─► Screen 3: "Alarm History / Journal" (Meldespeicher)
         • Properties -> General -> Display: Select "Alarm buffer"
         • Displays full historical sequence of events (Incoming, Outgoing, Ack)

Mapping Industry Library Alarm Classes to Panel Controls

The following table details how PCS 7 alarm classes correlate with TIA Portal Comfort Panel alarm views:

PCS 7 Alarm ClassIndustry Library BlockTIA Portal Alarm ClassComfort Panel View BehaviorAlarm High (AS)IL_MonAnL / IL_MotLErrors / Alarm HighFlashing red text; requires local acknowledge button.Warning High (AS)IL_MonAnLWarnings / Warning HighSolid yellow text; clears automatically on normalization.Tolerance (AS)IL_MonAnLToleranceDisplayed in Process Alarm view.Operational MessageIL_OpDi01 / Mode changeSystem / OperatingLogged to chronological list; no audible horn.First-Fault InterlockIL_MotL / IL_VlvLInterlock TripHighlights the specific permissive that arrested equipment.

Verification

To confirm that the Comfort Panel alarm windows operate correctly:
1. In TIA Portal, compile the Comfort Panel project and download to the physical TP 1500 Comfort panel.
2. Simulate an analog high alarm on the S7-400 AS; verify that the alarm appears instantly on the panel's New List screen with flashing red indicators.
3. Press the Acknowledge button on the panel touch screen; verify that the alarm disappears from the New List and immediately appears on the Old List (Acknowledged active) screen.
4. Normalize the process variable; verify that the alarm clears from the Old List.
5. Open the Alarm History screen; confirm that Incoming (+), Acknowledged (*), and Outgoing (-) timestamps are chronologically preserved.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Comfort Panels have limited onboard memory buffers (typically 1,024 historical alarms). Never configure fast cyclic diagnostic polling on Comfort Panels over heavily loaded plant buses. Ensure that alarm logging archives on Comfort Panels are configured to write to external SD cards or USB flash media rather than internal panel flash memory to prevent memory wear.

Engineer FAQ

Where can I download the PCS 7 Industry Library Comfort Panel integration manual?

Download Entry ID 50708061 ('Integration of Comfort Panels in SIMATIC PCS 7') directly from the Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS) portal.

Can Comfort Panels acknowledge alarms simultaneously on the main WinCC OS Server?

Yes. When using Industry Library blocks, acknowledging an alarm on the Comfort Panel can be configured to forward the acknowledgment bit to the AS block, which subsequently acknowledges the alarm on the WinCC OS Server.

Which TIA Portal version is required for PCS 7 v8.2?

SIMATIC PCS 7 v8.2 Industry Library typically integrates with TIA Portal WinCC Comfort/Advanced V13 SP1 or V14.

Do Comfort Panels require PCS 7 Process Object (PO) licenses?

No. Comfort Panels are independent HMI devices and do not consume PCS 7 OS Runtime Process Object licenses.

Technical References

Related Tags

Industry Library
Comfort Panel
TP 1500 Comfort
Alarm View
TIA Portal

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Configuring Alarm Views and Message Windows for Comfort Panels in SIMATIC PCS 7 Industry Library