My concrete guy is pushing for before (easier for him) but he claims the wheelbarrows will damage the tubing. He says the mesh will go over the foam and tubing on top of that. I thought the tubing is stapled to the foam and mesh over that? In the latter, won't the mesh somewhat protect the tubing? What is best here?

We do the mechanical systems for many basement tear outs. We start by demo on the concrete, excavation for plumbing and radion, then 2" of XPS or EPS to which we always staple PEX tubing. Though we always use wire when designing or installing heated driveways and certain commercial properties. Wire is for crack control. Cracks in basements need little control and if the floor is to be polished we will grudgingly us ZIP strips.

Once the concrete poured the walls are furred out, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, new frost-free faucets, the rim joist and walls are foamed with drywall over all.

Don't forget, the the bottom plate of your framed wall should be treated.

So what are you saying, we don't need the wire mesh? I prefer to have it. I believe it is code here as well. My question is how much of a risk is it to have wheelbarrows run over pex? I also don't want the slab rained on while framing...

Wire serves as crack control if you think you need it. It is difficult to damage PEX with normal foot traffic. We use plywood when running wheel barrows over PEX or wire. Rain is bad/

Yea I am pretty much decided to pour the slab after the roof is up. Maybe a day or two before they install the windows. So should the pex be stapled to the foam, and the wire on top of that? or should the wire go down on the foam, and have the pex on top of the wire zip tied down?

Please re-read my second response.

Good luck.