diff --git a/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Galaxy.Proxy.Tests/LiveStack/LiveStackFixture.cs b/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Galaxy.Proxy.Tests/LiveStack/LiveStackFixture.cs
index 7199c22..2915811 100644
--- a/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Galaxy.Proxy.Tests/LiveStack/LiveStackFixture.cs
+++ b/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Galaxy.Proxy.Tests/LiveStack/LiveStackFixture.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Runtime.Versioning;
+using System.Security.Principal;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using Xunit;
@@ -40,6 +43,25 @@ public sealed class LiveStackFixture : IAsyncLifetime
 
     public async ValueTask InitializeAsync()
     {
+        // 0. Elevated-shell short-circuit. The OtOpcUaGalaxyHost pipe ACL allows the configured
+        //    SID but explicitly DENIES Administrators (decision #76 — production hardening).
+        //    A test process running with a high-integrity token (any elevated shell) carries the
+        //    Admins group in its security context, so the deny rule trumps the user's allow and
+        //    the pipe connect returns UnauthorizedAccessException — technically correct but
+        //    the operationally confusing failure mode that ate most of the PR 37 install
+        //    debugging session. Surfacing it explicitly here saves the next operator the same
+        //    five-step diagnosis. ParityFixture has the same skip with the same rationale.
+        if (IsElevatedAdministratorOnWindows())
+        {
+            SkipReason =
+                "Test host is running with elevated (Administrators) privileges, but the " +
+                "OtOpcUaGalaxyHost named-pipe ACL explicitly denies Administrators per the IPC " +
+                "security design (decision #76 / PipeAcl.cs). Re-run from a NORMAL (non-admin) " +
+                "PowerShell window — even when your user is already in the pipe's allow list, " +
+                "the elevated token's Admins group membership trumps the allow rule.";
+            return;
+        }
+
         // 1. AVEVA + OtOpcUa service state — actionable diagnostic if anything is missing.
         using var cts = new CancellationTokenSource(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));
         PrerequisiteReport = await AvevaPrerequisites.CheckAllAsync(
@@ -111,6 +133,28 @@ public sealed class LiveStackFixture : IAsyncLifetime
     {
         if (SkipReason is not null) Assert.Skip(SkipReason);
     }
+
+    private static bool IsElevatedAdministratorOnWindows()
+    {
+        if (!RuntimeInformation.IsOSPlatform(OSPlatform.Windows)) return false;
+        return CheckWindowsAdminToken();
+    }
+
+    [SupportedOSPlatform("windows")]
+    private static bool CheckWindowsAdminToken()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            using var identity = WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent();
+            return new WindowsPrincipal(identity).IsInRole(WindowsBuiltInRole.Administrator);
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            // Probe shouldn't crash the test; if we can't determine elevation, optimistically
+            // continue and let the actual pipe connect surface its own error.
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 [CollectionDefinition(Name)]