diff --git a/src/phase_z2_pipeline.py b/src/phase_z2_pipeline.py
index 42233a1..a4e9c20 100644
--- a/src/phase_z2_pipeline.py
+++ b/src/phase_z2_pipeline.py
@@ -2826,6 +2826,176 @@ def write_debug_json(run_dir: Path, layout_preset: str,
     return debug_path
 
 
+# ─── Step 9 application-plan helpers (IMP-32 u1) ───────────────
+
+def _application_candidates_for_unit(unit) -> list[dict]:
+    """Step 9 (IMP-32 u1) — application candidate dicts from unit.v4_candidates.
+
+    Pure extraction of inline block at src/phase_z2_pipeline.py:4487-4501.
+    Behavior preserved: key set/order, APPLICATION_MODE_BY_V4_LABEL lookup,
+    required_changes placeholder = [] (v0 = trace-only).
+    """
+    app_candidates = []
+    for c in unit.v4_candidates:
+        mode, auto_app, delegated = APPLICATION_MODE_BY_V4_LABEL.get(
+            c.label, ("exclude", False, None)
+        )
+        app_candidates.append({
+            "template_id": c.template_id,
+            "frame_id": c.frame_id,
+            "v4_label": c.label,
+            "application_mode": mode,
+            "auto_applicable": auto_app,
+            "required_changes": [],   # v0 = trace-only
+            "delegated_to": delegated,
+        })
+    return app_candidates
+
+
+def _v4_all_judgments_for_unit(v4_all_for_unit) -> list[dict]:
+    """Step 9 (IMP-32 u2) — V4 all-judgment dicts (reject 포함) for a unit.
+
+    Pure extraction of inline block at src/phase_z2_pipeline.py:4529-4545
+    (post-u1 line numbers). IMP-11 D-2 markers preserved in this helper:
+    single `_contract = get_contract(c.template_id)` bind, `catalog_registered`
+    boolean, and `min_height_px` chain `(_contract or {}).get("visual_hints", {}).get("min_height_px")`.
+    Key set/order unchanged: template_id, frame_id, frame_number, v4_rank,
+    confidence, label, catalog_registered, min_height_px.
+    """
+    # IMP-11 D-2 (u1) — per-candidate min_height_px source = catalog
+    # frame_contracts[template_id].visual_hints.min_height_px (logical 1280×720 px).
+    # None when contract unregistered (frontend tolerates undefined).
+    # Single get_contract lookup binds both catalog_registered and min_height_px.
+    v4_all_judgments_list = []
+    for c in v4_all_for_unit:
+        _contract = get_contract(c.template_id)
+        v4_all_judgments_list.append({
+            "template_id": c.template_id,
+            "frame_id": c.frame_id,
+            "frame_number": c.frame_number,
+            "v4_rank": c.v4_rank,
+            "confidence": c.confidence,
+            "label": c.label,
+            "catalog_registered": _contract is not None,
+            "min_height_px": (_contract or {}).get("visual_hints", {}).get("min_height_px"),
+        })
+    return v4_all_judgments_list
+
+
+def _build_application_plan_unit(
+    unit,
+    zone_plan,
+    selection_trace,
+    plan_record,
+    v4_all_for_unit,
+    layout_preset,
+    layout_candidates_list,
+) -> dict:
+    """Step 9 (IMP-32 u3) — per-unit application_plan dict assembly.
+
+    Pure extraction of the inline `application_plan_units.append({...})` block
+    currently at src/phase_z2_pipeline.py:4577-4623 (post-u1/u2 line numbers).
+    Byte-identical output (key set + key order + value identity) when called
+    with the same per-unit inputs:
+
+    - unit                    : Step 6 unit (source_section_ids, v4_candidates,
+                                v4_rank, selection_path, fallback_reason,
+                                frame_template_id).
+    - zone_plan               : Step 8 per-unit zone_plan dict (region_layout_
+                                candidates, display_strategy_candidates).
+    - selection_trace         : v4_fallback_traces[unit.source_section_ids[0]]
+                                (candidates list for candidate_evidence /
+                                fallback_chain compat alias).
+    - plan_record             : plan_record_by_unit_id[id(unit)] or None
+                                (IMP-06 plan-aware additive fields).
+    - v4_all_for_unit         : lookup_v4_all_judgments(...) result (Step 7-A
+                                axis trace — reject 포함 모든 V4 후보).
+    - layout_preset           : Step 7 preset name (e.g., "Type A").
+    - layout_candidates_list  : Step 7 candidate list.
+
+    Per-index/per-id lookups (zone_region_plans[i], v4_fallback_traces.get(...),
+    plan_record_by_unit_id.get(id(unit)), section_alias_by_id, lookup_v4_all_
+    judgments(...)) stay at the call-site (u4).
+
+    Invariants preserved:
+    - candidate_evidence = selection_trace.get("candidates", []) — primary field.
+    - fallback_chain     = same list — compat alias for pre-IMP-05 readers.
+    - v4_candidates list comprehension fields + order unchanged.
+    - IMP-06 additive plan fields (position / assignment_source / section_
+      assignment_override / replaced_auto_unit / skipped_collided_auto_units /
+      skipped_reason) — None / False / [] when no override CLI used.
+    """
+    unit_id = "+".join(unit.source_section_ids)
+
+    has_v4 = bool(unit.v4_candidates)
+    candidate_status = "ok" if has_v4 else "no_non_reject_v4_candidate"
+    application_status = "ok" if has_v4 else "no_v4_candidate"
+    current_default = unit.frame_template_id if has_v4 else None
+
+    # IMP-06 blocker-fix (Codex #13 Blocker 3 / #16) — plan-aware additive
+    # fields. additive = pre-IMP-06 readers (no override CLI used) see
+    # position=None / assignment_source=None / section_assignment_override
+    # =False / replaced_auto_unit=None / skipped_collided_auto_units=[] /
+    # skipped_reason=None — i.e. byte-identical absent overrides.
+    plan_position = plan_record.get("position") if plan_record else None
+    plan_assignment_source = plan_record.get("assignment_source") if plan_record else None
+    plan_section_override = bool(plan_record.get("section_assignment_override")) if plan_record else False
+    plan_replaced_auto = plan_record.get("replaced_auto_unit") if plan_record else None
+    plan_skipped_collided = list(plan_record.get("skipped_collided_auto_units") or []) if plan_record else []
+    plan_skipped_reason = plan_record.get("skipped_reason") if plan_record else None
+
+    app_candidates = _application_candidates_for_unit(unit)
+    v4_all_judgments_list = _v4_all_judgments_for_unit(v4_all_for_unit)
+
+    return {
+        "unit_id": unit_id,
+        "layout_preset": layout_preset,
+        "layout_candidates": layout_candidates_list,
+        "region_layout_candidates": zone_plan.get("region_layout_candidates", []),
+        "display_strategy_candidates": zone_plan.get("display_strategy_candidates", []),
+        "candidate_status": candidate_status,
+        "application_status": application_status,
+        "current_default_candidate": current_default,
+        "selected_v4_rank": unit.v4_rank,
+        "selection_path": unit.selection_path,
+        "fallback_used": bool(unit.selection_path and "fallback" in unit.selection_path),
+        "fallback_reason": unit.fallback_reason,
+        # IMP-05 L2 (Codex #10 D4 / #16 idea A) — Step 9 per-unit candidate evidence.
+        # candidate_evidence is the primary field for future frontend / AI consumers.
+        # fallback_chain is kept as a compat alias for any pre-IMP-05 reader.
+        "candidate_evidence": selection_trace.get("candidates", []),
+        "fallback_chain": selection_trace.get("candidates", []),  # compat alias; prefer candidate_evidence
+        "v4_candidates": [
+            {
+                "template_id": c.template_id,
+                "frame_id": c.frame_id,
+                "frame_number": c.frame_number,
+                "v4_rank": c.v4_rank,
+                "confidence": c.confidence,
+                "label": c.label,
+            }
+            for c in unit.v4_candidates
+        ],
+        # Step 7-A axis 보강 (사용자 lock 2026-05-08) — frontend UI 가 reject
+        # 포함 모든 V4 후보를 시각 차별 (회색) 로 보여줄 수 있도록 trace.
+        # length = 0~32. label 별 count : v4_candidates 는 non-reject only,
+        # v4_all_judgments 는 reject 포함.
+        # catalog_registered = frame_contracts.yaml 에 contract 있는지 여부.
+        # false 면 사용자가 override 시도해도 Step 7-A 가 skip (render path 미연결).
+        # IMP-11 D-2 (u1) : per-candidate min_height_px added (None when unregistered).
+        "v4_all_judgments": v4_all_judgments_list,
+        "application_candidates": app_candidates,
+        # IMP-06 blocker-fix (Codex #13 Blocker 3 / #16) — plan-aware
+        # additive fields. None / False / [] when no override CLI used.
+        "position": plan_position,
+        "assignment_source": plan_assignment_source,
+        "section_assignment_override": plan_section_override,
+        "replaced_auto_unit": plan_replaced_auto,
+        "skipped_collided_auto_units": plan_skipped_collided,
+        "skipped_reason": plan_skipped_reason,
+    }
+
+
 # ─── Main entry ────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 def run_phase_z2_mvp1(
@@ -4450,28 +4620,10 @@ def run_phase_z2_mvp1(
 
     application_plan_units = []
     for i, unit in enumerate(units):
-        unit_id = "+".join(unit.source_section_ids)
         # zone_region_plans 는 unit i 와 1:1 (Step 6 unit → Step 8 zone_plan).
         zone_plan = zone_region_plans[i] if i < len(zone_region_plans) else {}
-
-        has_v4 = bool(unit.v4_candidates)
-        candidate_status = "ok" if has_v4 else "no_non_reject_v4_candidate"
-        application_status = "ok" if has_v4 else "no_v4_candidate"
-        current_default = unit.frame_template_id if has_v4 else None
         selection_trace = v4_fallback_traces.get(unit.source_section_ids[0], {})
-
-        # IMP-06 blocker-fix (Codex #13 Blocker 3 / #16) — plan-aware additive
-        # fields. additive = pre-IMP-06 readers (no override CLI used) see
-        # position=None / assignment_source=None / section_assignment_override
-        # =False / replaced_auto_unit=None / skipped_collided_auto_units=[] /
-        # skipped_reason=None — i.e. byte-identical absent overrides.
         plan_record = plan_record_by_unit_id.get(id(unit))
-        plan_position = plan_record.get("position") if plan_record else None
-        plan_assignment_source = plan_record.get("assignment_source") if plan_record else None
-        plan_section_override = bool(plan_record.get("section_assignment_override")) if plan_record else False
-        plan_replaced_auto = plan_record.get("replaced_auto_unit") if plan_record else None
-        plan_skipped_collided = list(plan_record.get("skipped_collided_auto_units") or []) if plan_record else []
-        plan_skipped_reason = plan_record.get("skipped_reason") if plan_record else None
 
         # Step 7-A axis 보강 — reject 포함 모든 V4 judgments (frontend UI 가
         # 모든 frame 의 png 를 카드로 보여주기 위함).
@@ -4484,87 +4636,22 @@ def run_phase_z2_mvp1(
             v4, _first_sid, alias_keys=section_alias_by_id.get(_first_sid)
         )
 
-        # application_candidates : V4 후보 zip 으로 application_mode 변환
-        app_candidates = []
-        for c in unit.v4_candidates:
-            mode, auto_app, delegated = APPLICATION_MODE_BY_V4_LABEL.get(
-                c.label, ("exclude", False, None)
+        # IMP-32 u4 — per-unit application_plan dict assembly extracted into
+        # _build_application_plan_unit(...). Per-index/per-id lookups
+        # (zone_region_plans[i], v4_fallback_traces.get(...),
+        # plan_record_by_unit_id.get(id(unit)), section_alias_by_id,
+        # lookup_v4_all_judgments(...)) stay at the call-site.
+        application_plan_units.append(
+            _build_application_plan_unit(
+                unit,
+                zone_plan,
+                selection_trace,
+                plan_record,
+                v4_all_for_unit,
+                layout_preset,
+                layout_candidates_list,
             )
-            app_candidates.append({
-                "template_id": c.template_id,
-                "frame_id": c.frame_id,
-                "v4_label": c.label,
-                "application_mode": mode,
-                "auto_applicable": auto_app,
-                "required_changes": [],   # v0 = trace-only
-                "delegated_to": delegated,
-            })
-
-        # IMP-11 D-2 (u1) — per-candidate min_height_px source = catalog
-        # frame_contracts[template_id].visual_hints.min_height_px (logical 1280×720 px).
-        # None when contract unregistered (frontend tolerates undefined).
-        # Single get_contract lookup binds both catalog_registered and min_height_px.
-        v4_all_judgments_list = []
-        for c in v4_all_for_unit:
-            _contract = get_contract(c.template_id)
-            v4_all_judgments_list.append({
-                "template_id": c.template_id,
-                "frame_id": c.frame_id,
-                "frame_number": c.frame_number,
-                "v4_rank": c.v4_rank,
-                "confidence": c.confidence,
-                "label": c.label,
-                "catalog_registered": _contract is not None,
-                "min_height_px": (_contract or {}).get("visual_hints", {}).get("min_height_px"),
-            })
-
-        application_plan_units.append({
-            "unit_id": unit_id,
-            "layout_preset": layout_preset,
-            "layout_candidates": layout_candidates_list,
-            "region_layout_candidates": zone_plan.get("region_layout_candidates", []),
-            "display_strategy_candidates": zone_plan.get("display_strategy_candidates", []),
-            "candidate_status": candidate_status,
-            "application_status": application_status,
-            "current_default_candidate": current_default,
-            "selected_v4_rank": unit.v4_rank,
-            "selection_path": unit.selection_path,
-            "fallback_used": bool(unit.selection_path and "fallback" in unit.selection_path),
-            "fallback_reason": unit.fallback_reason,
-            # IMP-05 L2 (Codex #10 D4 / #16 idea A) — Step 9 per-unit candidate evidence.
-            # candidate_evidence is the primary field for future frontend / AI consumers.
-            # fallback_chain is kept as a compat alias for any pre-IMP-05 reader.
-            "candidate_evidence": selection_trace.get("candidates", []),
-            "fallback_chain": selection_trace.get("candidates", []),  # compat alias; prefer candidate_evidence
-            "v4_candidates": [
-                {
-                    "template_id": c.template_id,
-                    "frame_id": c.frame_id,
-                    "frame_number": c.frame_number,
-                    "v4_rank": c.v4_rank,
-                    "confidence": c.confidence,
-                    "label": c.label,
-                }
-                for c in unit.v4_candidates
-            ],
-            # Step 7-A axis 보강 (사용자 lock 2026-05-08) — frontend UI 가 reject
-            # 포함 모든 V4 후보를 시각 차별 (회색) 로 보여줄 수 있도록 trace.
-            # length = 0~32. label 별 count : v4_candidates 는 non-reject only,
-            # v4_all_judgments 는 reject 포함.
-            # catalog_registered = frame_contracts.yaml 에 contract 있는지 여부.
-            # false 면 사용자가 override 시도해도 Step 7-A 가 skip (render path 미연결).
-            # IMP-11 D-2 (u1) : per-candidate min_height_px added (None when unregistered).
-            "v4_all_judgments": v4_all_judgments_list,
-            "application_candidates": app_candidates,
-            # IMP-06 blocker-fix (Codex #13 Blocker 3 / #16) — plan-aware
-            # additive fields. None / False / [] when no override CLI used.
-            "position": plan_position,
-            "assignment_source": plan_assignment_source,
-            "section_assignment_override": plan_section_override,
-            "replaced_auto_unit": plan_replaced_auto,
-            "skipped_collided_auto_units": plan_skipped_collided,
-            "skipped_reason": plan_skipped_reason,
-        })
+        )
 
     units_with_no_v4 = [
         u["unit_id"] for u in application_plan_units
diff --git a/tests/test_phase_z2_v4_fallback.py b/tests/test_phase_z2_v4_fallback.py
index dfd750f..158f42e 100644
--- a/tests/test_phase_z2_v4_fallback.py
+++ b/tests/test_phase_z2_v4_fallback.py
@@ -295,25 +295,79 @@ def test_existing_trace_shape_does_not_regress(patch_selector_deps):
     assert trace["selection_path"] == "rank_1"
 
 
-# ─── Case 7 : Step 9 production-source guard (Codex #20 blocker fix) ───
+# ─── Case 7 : Step 9 helper-call shape test (IMP-32 u5 — replaces source guard) ───
 
 
-def test_step9_production_emits_candidate_evidence_and_alias():
-    """Temporary production-source guard for IMP-05 Step 9 evidence fields.
+def test_build_application_plan_unit_emits_candidate_evidence_and_alias():
+    """IMP-32 u5 — direct helper-call shape test for Step 9 evidence fields.
 
-    Step 9 application-plan unit assembly is currently inline, so this test
-    checks the exact production assignments until IMP-32 extracts a helper.
-    Once that helper exists, replace this source-string guard with a direct
-    helper-call test.
+    Replaces the IMP-05 Case 7 `inspect.getsource(phase_z2_pipeline)` literal
+    guard (introduced at commit `23d1b25` while Step 9 unit assembly was
+    inline) with a direct call to `_build_application_plan_unit`, the helper
+    extracted in IMP-32 u3. Verification axes preserved:
+
+    - candidate_evidence list identity sourced from `selection_trace["candidates"]`
+    - fallback_chain compat-alias identity (same list object as candidate_evidence)
+    - key order: candidate_evidence before fallback_chain
+    - compat-alias comment preserved on the helper's fallback_chain line
     """
-    source = inspect.getsource(phase_z2_pipeline)
-    candidate_line = '"candidate_evidence": selection_trace.get("candidates", [])'
-    alias_line = '"fallback_chain": selection_trace.get("candidates", [])'
+    from types import SimpleNamespace
 
-    assert candidate_line in source
-    assert alias_line in source
-    assert source.index(candidate_line) < source.index(alias_line)
-    assert "compat alias; prefer candidate_evidence" in source
+    from src.phase_z2_pipeline import _build_application_plan_unit
+
+    candidates_list = [
+        {"rank": 1, "template_id": "MOCK_template_direct_a", "label": "use_as_is"},
+    ]
+    selection_trace = {"candidates": candidates_list}
+
+    # Synthetic CompositionUnit-shape duck-typed input — matches V4Match attrs
+    # used inside the helper (template_id / frame_id / frame_number / v4_rank /
+    # confidence / label per src/phase_z2_pipeline.py V4Match dataclass).
+    v4_candidate = SimpleNamespace(
+        template_id="MOCK_template_direct_a",
+        frame_id="MOCK_frame_001",
+        frame_number=1,
+        v4_rank=1,
+        confidence=0.9,
+        label="use_as_is",
+    )
+    unit = SimpleNamespace(
+        source_section_ids=["S1"],
+        v4_candidates=[v4_candidate],
+        v4_rank=1,
+        selection_path="rank_1",
+        fallback_reason=None,
+        frame_template_id="MOCK_template_direct_a",
+    )
+
+    result = _build_application_plan_unit(
+        unit=unit,
+        zone_plan={},
+        selection_trace=selection_trace,
+        plan_record=None,
+        v4_all_for_unit=[],
+        layout_preset="Type A",
+        layout_candidates_list=[],
+    )
+
+    # IMP-05 L2 — candidate_evidence is the primary field, identity-bound to
+    # selection_trace["candidates"] (not a copy).
+    assert "candidate_evidence" in result
+    assert result["candidate_evidence"] is candidates_list
+
+    # compat alias — fallback_chain references the SAME list object as
+    # candidate_evidence (verified by `is` identity, not equality).
+    assert "fallback_chain" in result
+    assert result["fallback_chain"] is candidates_list
+
+    # key order — candidate_evidence MUST precede fallback_chain in the
+    # returned dict to preserve documented L2 ordering.
+    keys = list(result.keys())
+    assert keys.index("candidate_evidence") < keys.index("fallback_chain")
+
+    # compat-alias comment preserved on the helper's fallback_chain line.
+    helper_source = inspect.getsource(_build_application_plan_unit)
+    assert "compat alias; prefer candidate_evidence" in helper_source
 
 
 # ─── Case 8 : Step 20 slide-status qualifier fields presence + defensive default