Live Zs tests

[SparkyTel]

Hi,

Wonder if you can help me with a conundrum. Within guidance note 3 we are shown Live Zs tests for lighting cirucits where the person undertaking the tests has to remove switch covers or ceiling roses so working near exposed live conductors.

Surely this is in conflict with regulation 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations, which basicly require Live Working to be avoided if it can be reasonably done dead.

Obviously it is quite reasonable to do a R1+R2 reading while the installation is dead and add this to Ze to give us Zs - so should the IEE change its guidance when it releases the 17th?

Your thoughts, pros and cons regarding Initial Verification Vs Periodic would be most interesting to hear!

Regards

tel

[Knipex]

There may be an occasion where you need to carry out a test on an installation, that for whatever reason cannot be isolated. A loop impedance test may be the only possible way to confirm continuity of the conductors and earth fault path.
I guess you just need to make sure you wear rubber gloves, goggles, hard hat and wellys before you open the enclosure

[SparkyTel]

Seems like the world is heading that way LOL