Staggered Overlapping Lengths Compulsory Or Not ?

[JoeH78]

Dear All,

In tank foundation ( approx. 200m3 pressure vessel ) consultant is requiring the bars overlapping in foundation to be in staggered forms, surely staggering the rebars provide benefits but I just want to know is compulsory or not ?
Furthermore, I would like to know on which code or regulation is it referred to staggered rebar as a "must"?

Regards,

 

[KootK]

In North America, I believe that the staggering of bar splices is encouraged but non-mandatory.

 

[JStephen]

If I remember correctly, in the older ACI 318, using staggered splices allowed splice lengths to be reduced. That provision was eliminated at some point, though. So now, "good practice" as KootK says.
In the past, we have had ringwall designers that insisted ringwalls be poured in sections with construction joints (in which case, all bars were lapped in the same area), while other ringwall designers required that ringwalls be poured monolithically (in which case, splices could be staggered or not).