Multifilamentary Bi(2223)/Ag tapes often exhibit AC loss levels comparable to those measured in monofilamentary samples, which is partly due to the large coupling currents induced in the low resistive sheath material. Surrounding the individual filaments by electrically insulating barrier layers suppresses these currents and strongly reduces the coupling. We demonstrate this effect with various types of magnetic and self-field AC loss measurements on a series of Bi(2223)/BaZrO3/Ag tapes. We also discuss the influence of barrier thickness, twist pitch length and filament arrangement on the measured losses in these composite conductors.