My SE has specified splice bars for the mesh in my raft slab rather than overlap the mesh. He makes the point that overlapping can reduce the cover. However we're talking 268 of them at 800mm long and 10mm dia. Apart from 214m of 10mm bar there's all that wiring into place..... Thoughts?

If it is heavy mesh and 2 layers splice can be easier.  When you have 4 sheets meeting mesh overlaps can get congested.  Get the tie wires with the loops on the end and a tying tool.  Thin blade on a 4" grinder.  Get the splice bars cut to size.

Have you thougt of getting sheets with flying ends? Makes overlaps easy.

Thanks for the replies. I'll look into flying ends - didn't know they were a thing. Definately going to do the tie wires with loops though.

I hadn't heard of flying ends either. It's an education in BH.

 

It makes a lot of sense and saves some secondary bars, but I wonder about the cost, not being a mainstream product.

Lapping bars is sensible. Tying is quite a skill so the machine is a good idea.

Flying ends are standard here anyway. Overlap and tie.

Just to add to this, you can make your own flying ends with a angle grinder in a few minutes. 

 

We flipped the mesh to maintain cover until 4 sheets overlapped, then used the angle grinder. 

Going to splice mine , once the sheets start to overlap I’m struggling to get the coverage

Steel fitters are lazy if you've got lots of 3 and 4 layers overlapping? Time to cut accordingly and do it properly.