April 28, 2026
Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One
The Rule of AVL Test Systems, Inc. v. Hensel Phelps Construction Co. is that whether goods installed "become a fixed part of the structure" under Business and Professions Code section 7045's exemption from contractor licensing requirements is a question of fact that cannot be resolved on summary judgment when competing expert evidence exists, under circumstances involving complex equipment installation with substantial connections to the structure.