Plumbing tub against 1.5" furred basement wall

[thatjohn]

We're adding a 36" x 72" whirlpool tub to a new bathroom in our basement, with that tub framed in an alcove so it can also be used as a shower.

Because the warranty for the tub requires pump/motor access to be a specific way (access panel on the short side of the tub, opposite the drain side -- apron access alone, even if fully accessible from both long sides of the tub, is not enough), we must place the drain/short side of the tub, and thus the shower head, on the exterior basement wall. (a ~20" thick stone wall, furred out with 2x2's, with dimpled membrane between the furring strips and the stone, having 1.5" ridged insulation. About 4/5th of the wall is below grade -- in Minnesota.)

The 1/2" copper pipe would be notched ~1/2" into the furring strips and ridged insulation, leaving ~1" insulation plus ~1/2 dimpled membrane between the exterior wall and the copper.

All pipe on the exterior wall would be at least 2' below the exterior grade, since we would using a shower head with a sliding bar for adjustable height, allowing the stub out for the shower head to be lower on the wall. Shower/faucet valve would be on the long wall in the alcove -- an interior wall. Only the pipe from the shower valve to the shower head would be partially along the exterior wall.

Does this sound like a horrible idea?

Thanks!

 

[CountryBumkin]

A drawing would help understand your situation better.
Can you use (flexible) PEX tubing to avoid notching the furring?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[thatjohn]

A drawing would help understand your situation better.
Can you use (flexible) PEX tubing to avoid notching the furring?

Thanks for your reply. We've decided to void our warranty (just to labor portion of the warranty -- they'll still supply parts) and put the pump against the outside wall, allowing the wet wall to be on an interior wall. Having drain-tile on the inside perimeter of the basement sealed the deal -- it would have interfered with the drain/trap for the tub.

(The motor will still be accessible from both sides of the tub -- so I'm not sure why the tub manufacturer, American Standard, won't honor the labor portion of the warranty in this case. It's only slightly more complicated to access the motor for service.)