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Zs, to test or calculate?

A large contractor working on our site have told me yesterday that it is their policy not to live test final circuits where they cannot use a plug? In order to reduce risk, they will now only calculate Zs, on circuits where they would have to open an enclosure, such as FCU's and light fittings.
The control measures we insist are in place, are IP2X equipment, GS38 leads, two man rule with second man having resus training, among others. So I feel the risk has been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable. An d my instinct tells me that a measured Zs reading must be more accurate than a calculated one, since it will include all parallel paths under test.
The contractor is happy to live test distribution circuits, so it seems they want to pick and choose.
They also state that this is how things are now, and have worked at many different sites, Cross Rail, Heathrow, various MOD sites etc, and that they al accept this as common practice.

I like some opinions to find out what's going on out there on other sites. 
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  • It seems that nowadays it is acceptable across the board to calculate Zs.

    As an aside, I don't think of adding dead R1+R2 results to Ze as being the calculation approach - it's still all based on measurement even if done in parts. For me, calculation would be something like working out the impedance based on the cable length and tabulated resistance per metre - which might have been the approach in the old days when earth continuity would be verified with nothing more than a set of test lamps.

       - Andy.
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  • It seems that nowadays it is acceptable across the board to calculate Zs.

    As an aside, I don't think of adding dead R1+R2 results to Ze as being the calculation approach - it's still all based on measurement even if done in parts. For me, calculation would be something like working out the impedance based on the cable length and tabulated resistance per metre - which might have been the approach in the old days when earth continuity would be verified with nothing more than a set of test lamps.

       - Andy.
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