---
title: How do the alarms work 
description: "Alarm Behaviour and Reset Conditions\n\nThis article explains how alarms are triggered and cleared, and why an alarm may remain active even after readings appear to return to normal."
---

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# How do the alarms work 

## This article explains how alarms are triggered and cleared, and why an alarm may remain active even after readings appear to return to normal.

![Screenshot 2025-10-23 at 1.37.27 PM](https://help.hilomonitoring.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-10-23%20at%201.37.27%20PM.png?width=670&height=293&name=Screenshot%202025-10-23%20at%201.37.27%20PM.png)

### Alarm Clearance Requirements

Once a monitor enters an alarm state, it will not immediately clear when the reading drops back below the alarm threshold.

To prevent false clears caused by temporary fluctuations, the system requires:

- **Three consecutive measurements below the alarm level** before the alarm is cleared.

This means that even if a reading briefly returns to normal, the alarm will remain active until three stable, below-threshold readings are recorded.

---

### Rapid Rise Alarm Behaviour

The **Rapid Rise Alarm** operates differently from standard alarms:

- It is a **one-time notification only**
- It **does not place the monitor into an ongoing alarm state**

However, it still includes a stabilisation safeguard:

- After a rapid rise alert is triggered, the system requires **three stable measurements** before another rapid rise alarm can be generated.

### Why This Matters

These rules are designed to:

- Reduce false alarms caused by signal noise or short-term fluctuations
- Ensure alarms reflect consistent and meaningful changes in readings
- Prevent repeated or excessive alerting within a short time period

---

### Summary

- **Standard alarms:** Require 3 consecutive safe readings to clear
- **Rapid rise alarms:** Trigger once and require 3 stable readings before retriggering
- **Purpose:** Improve reliability and reduce false or repeated alerts

 

 

 

 

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