ZDV controller described a weather deviation event when the separation required was questioned becau...

Narrative:

Weather north of den and the aircraft were deviating. I took the hand off on aircraft X and I noticed radar histories on the west side of the data block. I picked on the target and aircraft Y data block appeared due north climbing to 21;000 ft. Aircraft X was climbing up also just east of the aircraft Y and said she was deviating to mbw...aircraft X's data block stated dr/mbw in the fourth line; which means deviating right; mbw when able. So aircraft X turned direct to mbw heading right for aircraft Y. I immediately turned the aircraft X to a H360 and expedite their climb through 22;000 ft with clearance up to 32;000 ft. I was thinking that I may have deviated den approach's airspace; but had I done nothing aircraft X would have run over aircraft Y. My question is who was separating the two aircraft and what separation standards were they using? Den approach only needs 3 miles and 1;000 ft; but ZDV needs 5 miles and 1;000 ft. Recommendation; keep positive control of aircraft. Issue clearances that guarantee the needed separation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDV Controller described a weather deviation event when the separation required was questioned because both terminal and enroute procedures were involved.

Narrative: Weather north of DEN and the aircraft were deviating. I took the hand off on Aircraft X and I noticed RADAR histories on the west side of the Data Block. I picked on the target and Aircraft Y Data Block appeared due north climbing to 21;000 FT. Aircraft X was climbing up also just east of the Aircraft Y and said she was deviating to MBW...Aircraft X's Data Block stated DR/MBW in the fourth line; which means deviating right; MBW when able. So Aircraft X turned direct to MBW heading right for Aircraft Y. I immediately turned the Aircraft X to a H360 and expedite their climb through 22;000 FT with clearance up to 32;000 FT. I was thinking that I may have deviated DEN Approach's airspace; but had I done nothing Aircraft X would have run over Aircraft Y. My question is who was separating the two aircraft and what separation standards were they using? DEN approach only needs 3 miles and 1;000 FT; but ZDV needs 5 miles and 1;000 FT. Recommendation; keep positive control of aircraft. Issue clearances that guarantee the needed separation.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1020811
Time
Date	201207
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZDV.ARTCC
State Reference	CO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict

ZDV controller described a weather deviation event when the separation required was questioned because both terminal and enroute procedures were involved.