Rebar Splices at Construction Joints

[DHKpeWI]

Is it necessary to splice rebar at construction joints. The particular application is for concrete shear walls.

 

[DST148]

No. It is not necessary. However, in vertical elements like columns and shear walls, reinforcing is spliced above floor levels / construction joints.

 

[JAE]

DST148 is correct - but just to make sure there is no confusion in the answer - what is meant is that you can simply continue the reinforcing bars through the joint continuously.

Don't misread the answer to assume that you can terminate the bars at the joint - unless you are purposely making an expansion joint or a tensile separation between the two concrete placements on either side.

 

[DHKpeWI]

Thanks guys.

Just to be clear, it will be a horizontal joint in the wall. We will specify that the joint is roughened.

I assume that this does not change your answers.

 

[JedClampett]

You don't need to splice the bars, vertical or horizontal. It's somewhat customary since it is a convenient place to splice bars, plus it adds another element of weakness to assure that a crack forms there, instead of willy nilly all over the place.
In a wall pour, it's nice to limit the bar projections, as they are a little dangerous, plus they get in the way for the chutes or hoses or whatever.

 

[DST148]

@JAE - My answer was not very clear. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[PicoStruc]

I would add that if your wall is a ductile one, some more restriction may apply. Some code limit quantity of splicing occuring at a particular location.

For example, in canadian code, not more than only 50% of splicing can occur in the same location in the platic hinge region (that can be 3 story height) of a ductile shear wall.

Check you local concrete code.