I would like to wade in here, I work for Chubb Fire, previously Fire Fighting Enterprises, for the last 23 years all I have done is monthly tests on Fire/ Ewis panels and carried out Annual tests on smoke detectors within home units.

I do not test residential smoke detectors unless my company has a service agreement with the Strata Plan.

Having read the comments ( all good ), the people with whom I work amongst have no formal training to do what they do , so a competent person as mentioned in the AS 1851.8 2005 , now 2012 will suffice for testing.

you want to test the detectors without dirtying the filter, do as my professional training has provided ………….. Long conduit and Incense .