> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.security.gallagher.com/knowledge-hub/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.security.gallagher.com/knowledge-hub/products/cc-software/configure/configuration-scenarios/scenario-alarm-zone-testing.md).

# Test alarm zones

Test alarm zones without generating alarms or sending monitoring messages.

When technicians are on site, you usually want to test alarm zones **without** generating alarms or sending messages to monitoring. Every alarm zone can be overridden into **four states**, but most sites only use the first two (Armed, Disarmed). Rename the third state to **Testing** in Server Properties and give it an action plan that produces a **Message only** with **no Alarm Transmitter** selected. A technician can then put the zone into Testing and work without raising alarms.

### The four alarm zone states

Most people do not notice that every alarm zone can be overridden into **four** states; most sites only use the first two.

![Alarm zone showing the four override states](https://328339335-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6bM8WhlBE9BYizPWJaPN%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-15d7d279e2f3bc4e3b850558b9ed4ae804c9858e%2FSECHUB-CCS-ALARMTEST-01-four-states.png?alt=media)

The names of the third and fourth states are set **site-wide** in **Server Properties**. You can change them to anything you like.

![Server Properties where the state names are set](https://328339335-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6bM8WhlBE9BYizPWJaPN%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-02f500157d3655323f2bd99aac9e813923cd32e3%2FSECHUB-CCS-ALARMTEST-02-server-properties.png?alt=media)

In this example the **third state has been changed to "Testing"**.

![Third state renamed to Testing](https://328339335-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6bM8WhlBE9BYizPWJaPN%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-42d646a90a6c8ac4f22746d03d542056b52f256c%2FSECHUB-CCS-ALARMTEST-03-testing-state-renamed.png?alt=media)

### Configure the Testing state

On an action plan you now see the change: a **Testing** option is present instead of "User1".

![Action plan now showing the Testing option](https://328339335-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6bM8WhlBE9BYizPWJaPN%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6abca74ad899c2b9a11be882ceea218bc9a71e70%2FSECHUB-CCS-ALARMTEST-04-action-plan-testing-option.png?alt=media)

![Armed status action plan configuration](https://328339335-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6bM8WhlBE9BYizPWJaPN%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-90fbe8cef61d8bebbcfbb2f798ca34985cb30f82%2FSECHUB-CCS-ALARMTEST-05-armed-config.png?alt=media)

![Testing status set to Message only with no Alarm Transmitter](https://328339335-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6bM8WhlBE9BYizPWJaPN%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3d4dd24cdf98cdfe039e048eb89151d3b1364b3c%2FSECHUB-CCS-ALARMTEST-06-testing-message-only.png?alt=media)

In both the **Armed** and **Disarmed** statuses there are alarms being generated and messages being sent to the IP Alarm Transmitter. But the **Testing** status has **Message only** and **no Alarm Transmitter** selected. This means a technician can put the alarm zone into the Testing state and carry out tests around the site **without** generating alarms in the system or sending messages to monitoring.

> **The third and fourth alarm zone states can only be overridden from Command Centre, not from a terminal.**

### Related links

* [Alarm Transmission - Monitoring](/knowledge-hub/products/cc-software/configure/alarm-transmission/alarm-transmission-monitoring.md). How action plans and the Alarm Transmitter send events to monitoring.


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