Wiring – the minimum distance that should be maintained between parallel electric and data cables

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I need to run some electric and data (coaxial, UTP Cat5/6 and phone) wires from one room to the adjacent rooms.

I've read Can I run CAT5/6 cables parallel to electrical cables? but I understand that question deals on whether one could use the same pipe for both electric and data lines.

I will use different pipes/raceways and boxes for AC (10A 220V) wires and data, as follows:

  1. A 10m run of AC and data, each in a different PVC pipe along a brick wall covered with cement.
  2. A 10m run of AC and data, each in a different wall-mounted plastic raceway.

What is the recommended/required distance between each pipe? between each raceway? Does any of the data wires require a separate pipe/raceway?

Best Answer

There are no code requirements for parallel spacing that I am aware of, but a friend of mine who runs network wiring in a commercial setting, says that with typical line voltage, he tries to keep parallel runs separated by at least 12", and shoots for 18". (He is currently helping me with the exact same issue in our home office reno).