Fire detection system testing

A fire detection system comprising:

• a plurality of detector units, each detector unit including:
• a sensor for monitoring an environmental condition;
• an indicator for generating a visible indication;
• and
• a controller in connection with the sensor and the indicator,
• wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a fire alarm control panel of the fire detection system;
• wherein the controller is configured to operate the detector unit in a testing mode, the testing mode being for testing a response of the fire detection system to an environmental condition that is indicative of a fire;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to cause the indicator to indicate an outcome of a test carried out on the detector unit when the detector unit is operating in the testing mode;
• wherein the controller is configured to determine that the test has failed if the controller has not received a communication from the fire alarm control panel within a predetermined time from the start of the test;
• wherein the controller is configured to determine if the detector unit is next in a testing sequence based on a notification from the fire alarm control panel and cause the indicator to indicate that the detector unit is next in the testing sequence if the controller is notified that the detector unit is next in the testing sequence by the fire alarm control panel;
• an alarm control panel for use in the fire detection system, comprising:
• a control unit for controlling operations of the fire detection system, wherein the control unit is configured to communicate with the plurality of detector units of the fire detections system;
• wherein the control unit is configured to trigger a testing mode in at least one detector unit of the plurality of detector units of the fire detection system;
• and
• wherein the control unit is configured to process a communication received from a detector unit operating in the testing mode, and communicate an outcome response to the communication to said detector unit.

A method of testing a fire detection system, comprising:

• triggering, through a control unit of a fire alarm control panel in the fire detection system, a testing mode in a detector unit in the fire detection system;
• indicating, through an indicator of the detector unit, that the detector unit has not been tested;
• sensing, through a sensor of the detector unit, an environmental condition that is indicative of a fire;
• indicating, through the indicator of the detector unit, that a test has been carried out on the detector unit;
• notifying, through detector unit, the sensed environmental condition to the fire alarm control panel;
• indicating, through the indicator of the detector unit, an outcome of the test based on a response to the notification of the sensed environmental condition from the fire alarm control panel;
• wherein the outcome of the test is determined as failed if the detector unit has not received a communication from the fire alarm control panel within a predetermined time from the start of the test;
• wherein the method further comprises determining if the detector unit is next in a testing sequence based on a notification from the fire alarm control panel and causing the indicator to indicate that the detector unit is next in the testing sequence if the detector unit is notified of being next in the testing sequence by the fire alarm control panel.