1. A method in a data processing system, the method comprising: monitoring a value of a data point associated with a device in an automation system using a set of pairs of event enrollment objects and notification class objects configuring and communicating an alarm, for each pair of objects, the first of the pair defined according to a first protocol, and the second of the pair corresponding to one of a set of offsets defined according to a second protocol; writing property values of the pairs of objects for different alarm monitoring modes using a set of command objects; and in response to detecting the value for the data point meeting conditions in at least one of the event enrollment objects, generating and communicating an alarm according to a notification class object paired with the at least one event enrollment object, wherein the first protocol and the second protocol are different building automation communication protocols, wherein the first protocol is building automation and controls network (BACnet) protocol, wherein the second protocol is a proprietary protocol for configuring and communicating alarms, and wherein writing the property values of the pairs of objects for the different alarm monitoring modes comprises, in response to a change in which of the alarm monitoring modes is active, changing one or more of the property values of the pairs of objects using the set of command objects.