Configuring Automated SMS and Pager Notifications in PCS 7 V9.0 via Alarm Control Center

In SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0, configuring automated SMS notifications when plant equipment trips or stops is accomplished by integrating WinCC with the Siemens-partnered WinCC Alarm Control Center (ACC, developed by Alarm IT Factory). ACC interfaces with the WinCC Alarm Logging database via OLE-DB / OPC A&E. In SIMATIC Manager, specific alarm messages on APL motor blocks (MotL FB1850) or digital monitors (MonDiL FB1848) are assigned dedicated text attributes or alarm classes. When a message is triggered in the AS, WinCC logs the event and ACC dispatches SMS text alerts through an industrial GSM/LTE modem or network SMPP gateway according to active shift schedules and escalation rules. Validate hardware modem specifications and ACC licensing with an authorized Siemens distributor or the Siemens Industry Mall.

Executive Summary

Unattended plant operations and high-priority process alarms require rapid notification of on-call maintenance personnel. In SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0, native WinCC tools lack built-in cellular SMS dispatch engines. To achieve robust, fail-safe alarm notification, Siemens relies on the WinCC Alarm Control Center (ACC) add-on. ACC continuously monitors WinCC alarm streams, parses message classes, text blocks, and priority levels, and routes actionable SMS notifications to duty rosters. This article explains the end-to-end architecture, block message configuration in CFC, WinCC alarm integration, and cellular modem setup for automated SMS alerting.

Architecture and Fundamental Mechanics

The automated notification architecture comprises four interconnected software and hardware layers:
1. AS-Level Alarm Generation (CFC / APL):
- Standard APL blocks (e.g., MotL FB1850, MonDiL FB1848) utilize ALARM_8P (SFB35) to generate time-stamped process alarms.
- Each alarm message contains fixed attributes (Class, Priority 1–16) and configurable text blocks (Free Text 1–9) defining plant area, equipment tag, and specific trip reason (e.g., 'Overload Trip', 'Emergency Stop').
2. WinCC Alarm Logging Server Interface:
- When an AS message fires, the WinCC OS Server records the event in its MS SQL Alarm Logging database.
- WinCC exposes these active alarms through standard OPC Alarm & Events (OPC A&E) or the WinCC OLE-DB provider.
3. WinCC Alarm Control Center (ACC) Core Engine:
- ACC runs as an independent Windows service on the OS Server or a dedicated notification PC.
- The ACC Agent filters incoming alarms based on configured rules (e.g., Message Class = 'Alarm High', Priority > 12, or specific Text Filter matching 'TRIP').
- ACC manages user schedules, on-call duty calendars, and multi-tier escalation (e.g., if Operator 1 does not acknowledge within 5 minutes, escalate to Supervisor).
4. Cellular Transmission Hardware:
- ACC communicates with an industrial cellular modem (e.g., Siemens TC65T, Cinterion, or modern industrial 4G/LTE cellular routers supporting AT commands or SMPP protocol) over RS-232, USB, or Ethernet TCP/IP.

Step-by-Step Implementation Procedure

Configure Alarm Messages in SIMATIC Manager / CFC:
a. Open the CFC chart containing the monitored equipment (e.g., MotL instance for Feed Pump P-101).
b. Select the block, right-click, and choose Object Properties -> Messages.
c. Select the trip event (e.g., 'Fault'): set Message Class to 'Alarm High' and assign an explicit Priority (e.g., Priority 14).
d. Under 'Free Text 1', enter a descriptive tag string: e.g., SMS_CRITICAL: Feed Pump P-101 Tripped.
e. Compile CFC charts and execute an OS Compilation to transfer message definitions to WinCC.
Install and Configure WinCC Alarm Control Center (ACC):
a. Install ACC V5.x on the WinCC OS Server or dedicated communications server.
b. In ACC Configurator, establish a connection to the WinCC project via the WinCC OPC A&E Agent.
c. Test the communication channel to verify active WinCC alarms are received by ACC.
Configure GSM/LTE Modem Communication:
a. Connect an industrial cellular modem (or network SMS gateway) to the ACC server via COM port or Ethernet.
b. In ACC Configurator, open 'Communication Channels -> GSM Channel'.
c. Select the COM port, set baud rate (typically 115200 bps), and enter the SIM card PIN code.
d. Click 'Test Modem': confirm ACC receives valid AT responses and reports signal strength (CSQ).
Define Alarm Filtering, Duty Rosters, and Message Templates:
a. In ACC, create an 'Alarm Filter': filter condition Free Text 1 contains 'SMS_CRITICAL' and Priority >= 12.
b. In 'Personnel Management', create user profiles with mobile phone numbers.
c. In 'Shift Schedules', assign users to active time windows (Day Shift, Night Shift, Weekend On-Call).
d. In 'Message Templates', configure the outbound SMS text format: e.g., [ALARM] @Date @Time: @Tagname - @Text1.
Configure Escalation and Acknowledgement Workflow:
a. Enable SMS two-way acknowledgement: operators can reply with an SMS code (e.g., ACK 1234) to acknowledge the alarm.
b. Set an escalation timer (e.g., 300 seconds): if unacknowledged, ACC automatically dispatches an SMS to the secondary supervisor.

Verification

In SIMATIC Manager, force a test trip input on the monitored MotL block.
In WinCC Alarm Control, verify the alarm appears with Priority 14 and the correct free text.
Verify that the industrial modem status LED blinks rapidly indicating transmission, and confirm the target mobile phone receives the SMS within 15 seconds.
Reply to the SMS with the assigned acknowledgment code: confirm in ACC logs and WinCC Alarm Control that the alarm status updates to 'Acknowledged'.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Standard WinCC does not include an onboard cellular modem driver; third-party software (such as ACC) is required. Network latency and mobile carrier coverage can introduce unpredictable SMS delivery delays.

Engineer FAQ

Can PCS 7 send SMS text messages natively without third-party software?

No. WinCC does not contain a built-in SMS dispatch engine. Siemens recommends the WinCC Alarm Control Center (ACC) add-on package.

What software connects WinCC alarms to the Alarm Control Center?

ACC uses an OPC A&E (Alarm & Events) or WinCC OLE-DB agent to capture alarms directly from the WinCC runtime.

Can operators acknowledge WinCC alarms via reply SMS?

Yes. If configured with a two-way GSM modem, operators can send an SMS reply with a confirmation code to acknowledge the alarm in WinCC.

What hardware is required for SMS dispatch in PCS 7?

An industrial GSM/LTE cellular modem (connected via RS-232, USB, or Ethernet) with an active M2M SIM card, or an IP-based SMPP SMS gateway.

How does ACC handle staff shift changes?

ACC includes an integrated calendar and shift management engine that routes SMS alerts only to personnel on active duty.

Technical References

Related Tags

Alarm Control Center
SMS Notification
WinCC Alarm Logging
PCS 7 V9.0
GSM Modem
ALARM_8P

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Configuring Automated SMS and Pager Notifications in PCS 7 V9.0 via Alarm Control Center