Safety margins between symmetrical data

cables and electrical items

Thorsten Punke
Global Program Manager Building Networks
Program Manager Data Center EMEA

A publication of Tyco Electronics

Introduction
With the introduction of new services and the increased number of electrically powered
devices, the topic of EMC and installation has become very important. 1 and 10 Gigabit
Ethernet have made this part of everyday practice, and it is also very significant in the
planning of IT networks.
For planners and operators the key sources of information on this are EN 50174-2 and the
global version, ISO/IEC 14763-2.
These standards ensure that installation and the environment are considered alongside the
pure performance of cable lengths. This is more important for sensitive channels such as 1
and 10 Gigabit than for others such as 100 Mbit/s.
One paper that will be especially significant in the future is ISO/IEC 29106, which defines the
MICE classes.
EMC requirements are defined for each class. E1 and E3 are typical office and industrial
environments.

Here it is important to recognize that the environment must be considered as well as the
actual IT system performance. For this reason various test series and conditions have been
defined for electrotechnology.

EMC Designation of IT cabling

In order to evaluate the EMC capability of IT cables, you need to understand the principles
involved.
Basically there are two types of EMC to consider:

Radiation
Immunity

With symmetrical data cables there are two ways in which both types can be controlled:

Twisting
Shielding

The effect of both mechanisms is summarized in the coupling attenuation parameter. This
comprises the effects of twisting and shielding for STP and twisting for UTP systems.
Twisting
Shielding

STP
X
X

UTP
X

Coupling attenuation is applicable both to unshielded and to shielded systems. This

parameter is directly proportional to EMC performance and can be measured up to
1000 MHz.
TCL and LCL are unsuitable, since they do not include the shielding effect and do not
correlate with the EMC capability of cabling systems. Furthermore these parameters can
only be measured up to 250 MHz.

Electromagnetic
Electrostatic discharge contact
(0,667 C)
Electrostatic discharge air
(0,132 C)
Radiated RF - AM

E1

E2

E3

4 kV

4 kV

4 kV

8 kV

8 kV

8 kV

3 V/m at 80 MHz to 1 GHz

3 V/m at 1,4 GHz to 2 GHz
1 V/m at 2 GHz to 2,7 GHz
3 V at 150 kHz to 80 MHz

3 V/m at 80 MHz to 1 GHz

3 V/m at 1,4 GHz to 2 GHz
1 V/m at 2 GHz to 2,7 GHz
3 V at 150 kHz to 80 MHz

10 V/m at 80 MHz to 1 GHz

3 V/m at 1,4 GHz to 2 GHz
1 V/m at 2 GHz to 2,7 GHz
10 V at 150 kHz to 80 MHz

EFT/B (communication)

500 V

1000 V

2000 V

Surge voltage
(transient potential
difference)
communication and
supply conductor to
earth
Magnetic field (50/60 Hz)

500 V

1000 V

2000 V

1 Am-1

3 Am-1

30 Am-1

Under discussion

Under discussion

Under discussion

Conducted RF

Magnetic field (60 Hz to

20 kHz)

These conditions simulate typical everyday EMC regarding the systems immunity to
possible causes of disturbance. MICE defines an environment, in this case an
electromagnetic environment. Each definition simulates how a typical source of disturbance
would occur in practice.
.-.-.-.-.-.Electromagnetic

Sources

Implication

Electromagnetic discharge contact

(0,667 C)
Electromagnetic discharge air
(0,132 C)
Radiated RF - AM

Floor coverings or materials where people

become charged; touching causes
discharge.

Floor covering

Floor coverings or materials where people

become charged; discharge occurs by air.

Floor covering

Electromagnetic radio waves from TV and

radio stations, mobile radios etc

Conducted RF

Electromagnetic radio waves from TV and

radio stations, mobile radios etc.
Switch operations for energy cables and
their implications for data cables.
Consumers of electricity, such as motors
and light bulbs, are switched on and off,
resulting in high frequency impulses.

Shielding of equipment and buildings.

Shielded cable lines.
Distance from equipment to data cables
Shielding

EFT/B (Communication)
Surge voltage (transient potential
difference)
communication and
supply conductor to earth
Magnetic field (50/60 Hz)

Magnetic field (60 Hz to 20 kHz)

Equipment carrying network frequency (50

Hz), e.g. transformer equipment and low
voltage distribution boards. Affects gap
between energy and data cables
Equipment carrying network frequency (60
Hz), e.g. transformer equipment and low
voltage distribution boards.

Gap between energy and data cables.

Cable installation.
Size and type of cable runs

Gap between electrical equipment and

data cables.
Cable installation.
Size and type of cable runs.
Gap between electrical equipment and
data cables.
Cable installation.
Size and type of cable runs.

In practice no system works alone. In many cases the cause of problems can be deduced
from this interaction. This includes switching procedures for cables, radio, harmonic waves,
etc.

To specify the environment it is necessary to analyze and classify the existing environment.
This table will help in making a first approximate estimate.
Interference source

Distance from IT cabling

E classification

Transmitter (TV, radio, mobile

phones)

< 3 km

E3

3 km

E1 or E2

Fluorescent lamps

< 0.15 m

E3

0.15 m

E1 or E2

< 0.5 m

E3

0.5 m

E1 or E2

<3m

E3

3m

E1 or E2

< 0.5 m

E3

0.5 m

E1 or E2

Electrical motors

Mobile phones

Power cables, 230 V

The distances mentioned here are valid for all currently defined services, which are defined
in cabling standards IS 11801 edition 2.1 and EN 50173-x, as well as current services such
as 1 & 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

Important: the recently introduced cabling standards make it obligatory to consider MICE in
the planning and operating phases. A cabling system must function without any faults in the
environment for which it was specified. E1 is the least demanding class.

Separation distance between power and data cables.

An important practical measure is the determination of the safety margin between data and
power cables. The relevant standard is EN 50174-2 2009.
The gap can be measured using the following important parameters:

EMC performance of IT cables (Coupling attenuation)

Energy cables (voltage and number of current bearing conductors)
Type of cable run
Separating strip

First the separation class is determined by the cable type. So for example for PiMF cables
this would be Class d, and for U/UTP cables class a or b. The general parameter for both
cable types is coupling attenuation. The assignment of TCL for UTP cables in the norm is
due to North American influences.
IT Cables

Separation
class

Shielded

Unshielded

Coaxial/Twin axial

Coupling attenuation at 30 MHz

to 100 MHz
dB

TCL at 30 MHz to 100 MHz

dB

Shielding attenuation at
30 MHz to 100 MHz
dB

80 dBa

70-10x lg f

85 dB

55 dB

60-10x lg f

55 dB

40 dB

50-10x lg f

40 dB

< 40 dB

50-10x lg f

< 40 dB

Cables conforming to EN 50288-4-1 (EN 50173-1:2007, Category 7) also comply with separation class d".

Cables conforming to EN 50288-2-1 (EN 50173-1:2007, Category 5) and EN 50288-5-1 (EN 50173-1:2007, Category 6)
also comply with separation class c". These cables can deliver the performance of separation class d", provided that they
keep to the applicable requirements for data link attenuation.
c

Cables conforming to EN 50288-3-1 (EN 50173-1:2007, Category 5) and EN 50288-6-1 (EN 50173-1:2007, Category 6)
also comply with separation class b". These cables can deliver the performance of separation classes c" or d", provided
that they keep to the applicable requirements for earthing symmetry attenuation.
d

Cables conforming to EN 50117-4-1 (EN 50173-1:2007, Category BCT-C), also comply with separation class d".

Note: Coupling attenuation is basically applicable to both shielded and unshielded

systems and fully correlating to the EMC performance of IT cabling systems.

Step 2 determines the gap according to the cable run.

Segregation
Classification

Separation without
electromagnetic
barriers

Minimum Gap in mm
Open
metallic
containmenta

Perforated
metallic
containment

Solid metallic
containmentd

b,c

d (S/FTP)

10 mm

8 mm

5 mm

0 mm

c (F/UTP)

50 mm

38 mm

25 mm

0 mm

b (U/UTP)

100 mm

75 mm

50 mm

0 mm

a (U/UTP)

300 mm

225 mm

150 mm

0 mm

a Screening performance (0 MHz to 100 MHz) equivalent to welded mesh steel basket of mesh size 50 mm x 100 mm
(excluding ladders). This screening performance is also achieved with steel tray (trunking without cover) of less than
1,0 mm wall thickness and more than 20 % equally distributed perforated area.

Screening performance (0 MHz to 100 MHz) equivalent to steel tray (trunking without cover) of 1,0 mm wall thickness
and no more than 20 % equally distributed perforated area. This screening performance is also achieved with screened
power cables that do not meet the performance defined in Note d.

The upper surface of installed cables shall be at least 10 mm below the top of the barrier.

Screening performance (0 MHz to 100 MHz) equivalent to a steel conduit of 1,5 mm wall thickness. Separation specified

is in addition to that provided by any divider/barrier

With the help of these tables the required gaps can be calculated very effectively in practice.
At higher voltages or if there is a high number of conductors, then a correction factor can be
used. The gap should be multiplied by this factor.
Electrical circuit typea, b, c

Quantity of circuits

Power cabling factor

P

20 A 230 V 1-phase

1 to 3

0.2

4 to 6

0.4

7 to 9

0.6

10 to 12

0.8

13 to 15

1.0

16 to 30

31 to 45

46 to 60

61 to 75

>75

a 3 phase cables must be treated as 3 single phase cables.

b More than 20A must be treated as a multiple of 20 A.
c Power supply cables for smaller AC or DC voltage must be treated on the basis of their amperage calculation, e.g. a 100
A/50 V DC cable is equivalent to 5 20 A cables (P = 0.4).

Example:
PiMF cable, 15 active current carrying conductors in the power cable (unshielded) 230V
single phase, plastic cable duct with no separation.
The cable corresponds to Class d, so together with the other conditions, this means the gap
should be 10mm.
For a high voltage unshielded cable Class b should be taken, giving a gap of 100mm. For
simple U/UTP constructions take Class a, giving a 300 mm separation distance.
These are absolute minimum limits. However practical test results show that these gaps are
insufficient. As is the case with many standards, these values should be recognized as the
lowest common denominator.

3rd part test of unshielded and shielded systems

In 2008 the ISO/IEC 17025 accredited Danish test laboratory Delta did some practical
testing in their laboratories to gain a better practical understanding of this subject.
For these tests data and power cables were installed on metal cable trays. Electrical bursts,
i.e. high energy impulses such as those that typically occur during switching on and off, were
simulated while Gigabit Ethernet was in active use in the IT cables.

Seperation in Air

4000

3500

3000

2500
UTP Class D
UTP Class E
Limit
STP Class E

Burst Voltage 2000

1500
1000
500

STP Class E
Limit

0
0

UTP Class E
3

6
Length cm

12

UTP Class D
25

50

Test results at Delta Labs separation distance of different cabling systems to power cables

If for example the E1 specification of 500 V was the basis, then a minimum gap of 12cm was
determined. At 1000 V this had already increased to 25cm.
The S/STP system can be installed without a gap right up to 2000 V. During the test the data
rate and signal quality were checked. In the case of U/UTP a fall below minimum values
completely broke off transmission.
In practice usual levels are up to about 2000 V. In order to cover a broad spectrum in
practice, 1000 V is a good basis.
At 1000 V the figures are:
U/UTP = 25 cm distance
S/STP = 0 cm distance

3rd party EMC test with live application at GHMT

In the context of an extensive investigation the safety margin between different wiring
systems and power cables was examined.
This investigation was carried out with test series to IEC/EN 61000-4-4. This test series is
part of the MICE specification, which is obligatory for cabling systems.

Note: Tests have been conducted while 10 Gigbait Ethernet was operating over the
the cabling channels. The single results for each systems shows where the
application stopped.

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Separation distance test - conclusions:

Summary of Mesh cable tray test assembly:
The shielded systems 03, 04 and 05, conform to the E3 environmental classification
regardless of the distance.
The unshielded system 01 (U/UTP) achieves the requirements of environmental
classification E1 when the distance is 30 cm.

Summary of Ground test assembly:

The shielded systems 04 and 05 (S/FTP) conform to the E3 environmental class.
The shielded system 03 (F/UTP) fulfils the requirements of environmental classification E2
when the gap between power and data cables is 0.0 cm.
For unshielded systems a sufficient distance between power and data cables must be
maintained. This is not usually necessary for shielded systems

Summary
Based on the test series of both accredited test laboratories we recommend the following:
For U/UTP cabling a safety distance of at least 30 cm (for 230 V and approx. 15 electrical
circuits) should be maintained. Alternatively all U/UTP cables can be installed in a closed
metal duct.
For S/FTP systems the separation distance can be be 0 mm.
Both test series have shown that switching on and off can seriously disturb data traffic at 1 &
10 Gb/s through U/UTP cables. The only way is screening, which is already contained within
S/FTP cables.

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The safety distance for U/UTP cables should be higher than those defined in EN 50174-2.
Both independent test series have clearly confirmed this.
Distances from other sources of disturbance
EN 50174-2 indicates the distances to be maintained from several other sources of
disturbance.
Source of disturbance
Fluorescent lamps
Neon lamps
Mercury vapour lamps
High-intensity discharge lamps
Arc welders
Frequency induction heating
Hospital equipment
Radio transmitter
TV transmitter
Radar

Minimum separation
mm
130a
130a
130a
130a
800a
1000a
b
b
b
b

a The minimum separations may be reduced provided that appropriate cable

management systems are used or product suppliers guarantees are provided.
b Where product suppliers guarantees do not exist, analysis shall be performed
regarding possible disturbances. e.g. frequency range, harmonics, transients,
bursts, transmitted power, etc.

Note: a refers to metallic separation or jacketing, which can be supplied by manufacturers of

shielded systems.
Practical test series using fluorescent lights
In a series of practical tests 5 cabling systems (2 UTP, 3 STP) were examined at up to 0.5 m
from a fluorescent tube which was being switched on and off.
In both UTP systems this discontinued the data traffic. In both UTP systems there were also
interruptions if the data and power cables were too close together, even though the tube was
1 or 2 m away.

When installing UTP systems it is obligatory to follow safety policy, otherwise interruption of
data traffic will result. In normal STP systems no interruption was found.
Note: Tests have been conducted while 10 Gigbait Ethernet was operating over the the
cabling channels. At 10 Gb/s data transfer was completely broken off within a distance of 0,5
m from U/UTP systems. Up to 3m the effct occur although when the poer cable of the lamp
was not separated. No interference was observed with any shielded systems.

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Mobile wireless devices

In a further test series common sources of wireless radiation such as mobile phone and
walkie talkies were also examined.
In the practical tests data transmission through the 01 and 02 systems was influenced by
pressing the transmit button of various handsets (2m and 70cm bands); similarly by call and
dial-up with mobile phones and GSM card at a distance of 3m from the cabling.

Walkietalkies
Mobilecommunicationdevices
(mobilephone,GSMcard)

System01

System02

System03

System04

System05

8
8

8
8

9
9

9
9

9
9

At 10 Gb/s data transfer was completely broken off within a distance of 3m from U/UTP
systems. No interference was observed with any shielded systems.

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Overview
Coupling
attenuation

MICE
Class E1

Distance
power to
data cable
Up to 25 cm

ANEXT
check

No 1

MICE
Class
E2 and E3
No 2

Mandatory

Distance from
fluorescent
tubes
Min. 3m 3

U/UTP
System
40 dB
FTP System
60 dB
S/FTP
System
80 dB

Yes

Yes

0- 1 cm

Automatic

0 mm

Yes

Yes

0 cm

Automatic

0 mm

For the planner and end user the EMC factor is a practical measure of how good or bad a
systems data transmission performance is in relation to EMV.
The various test series have shown that a high EMC factor 4 leads to operational safety and
low costs. Because simplified installation and operating costs have a significant influence on
total costs, you get considerably more for the same or less money.
A second important point is transmission quality. A good NEXT or return loss is of no benefit
if minor interference is enough to break off data transmission.
If you consider all these points then there is no sensible alternative to an STP solution.
The future formula for complete system compliance to standards is:

System compliance = Transmission performance + EMC performance

Criteria such as NEXT and return loss are not enough for reliable and functional
transmission channels. From now on it shall be in addition:

Compliance to MICE (minimum E1)

Coupling attenuation of about 70 dB

Compliance possible if all cables are laid in a metal duct

Compliance possible if all cables are laid in a metal duct
3
50 cm if the power cable is separated
4
EMC factor= coupling attenuation
2

14

Results and areas of application

If you consider the results along with the MICE standards it is evident that UTP systems
cannot be installed in every area unless additional protective measures are employed.
Environment

UTP

Office
Industry
Home cabnling

9/9/-

STP
9
9
9

Data center

All of the above apply to certain buildings and client groups, e.g. in a hospital or airport. In
these cases UTP cabling is not advisable, since it is impossible to assure data transmission.
In these sensitive areas even a short interruption of data traffic cannot be tolerated.
Environment
Hosptial
Airport
Hotels
Station

UTP
9
9/- 5
-

STP
9
9
9
9

Military

More information about the comparative test study is on our website:

http://www.utp-vs-stp.com/web/Microsites/UTP-vs-STP/

Only if safety distances are maintained

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