Abstract: An improved aerosol formulation for activating a smoke detector by emulating the effects of combustion products to test smoke detectors includes a propellant and an active ingredient consisting of one or more linear alkyl phthalate esters characterized by linear carbon chains of either seven or nine carbons in length, the alkyl phthalate esters being present in a proportion of between 10% and 1%.

Abstract: A smoke detector tester is disclosed herein having a hand held aerosol container for holding under pressure a quantity of spray emitted from the container by a finger valve in the form of an aerosol cloud of known particle distribution within the sensing area of a smoke detector undergoing test. The particle size distribution within the aerosol cloud simulates the aerosol particle sizes that are emitted during the early stages of the process of combustion. The tester thus provides a true functional test of the smoke detector's sensing ability.