bar position-er vs. bar separator

huangyhg

bar position-er vs. bar separator
am having a discussion with an inspector on a job who insist that aci530 disallows contact lap splice of bars and bar bar position-ers are actually bar separators.
now he reads 1.13.3.3 to mean that the two bars which make up a "contact lap" must have the spacing between themselves required in 1.13.3.1.
i read 1.13.3.3 to mean that the two bars which make up a "contact lap" must have the spacing between themselves and other bars which make a contact lap or another bar required in 1.13.3.1.  the way i read it two bars come together and form a contact lap and these two bars become a unit, effectively one bar.  this unit requires space between itself and other bars which may be contact lap spliced themselves or not. otherwise why would the very next paragraph concern bundled bars which are basically one long contact lap?
who is right?
the section in question:
1.13.3 placement of reinforcement
1.13.3.1 the clear distance between parallel
bars shall not be less than the nominal diameter of the
bars, nor less than 1 in. (25.4 mm).
1.13.3.2 in columns and pilasters, the clear
distance between vertical bars shall not be less than one
and one-half times the nominal bar diameter, nor less
than 11/2 in. (38.1 mm).
1.13.3.3 the clear distance limitations between
bars required in sections 1.13.3.1 and 1.13.3.2 shall also
apply to the clear distance between a contact lap splice
and adjacent splices or bars.
1.13.3.4 groups of parallel reinforcing bars
bundled in contact to act as a unit shall be limited to two
in any one bundle. individual bars in a bundle cut off
within the span of a member shall terminate at points at
least 40 bar diameters apart.
you are correct.  the definition of the word "contact" is indisputable.  the splices bars are touching each other.
i read 1.13.3.3 to mean that at a contact lap splice location, you still need the clear distance referenced on each side of the contact lap splice bars, not in between the spliced bars.  if you lay out main reinforcing with only 1 inch of clear distance between bars, then a bar that is lap spliced and tied in between these bars will not provide 1 inch of coverm but instead (1 in - db).  contact lap splices that don't contact makes no sense.
got it.  thanks.