Engineered wood product attributes

Engineered wood products share a yard but not a data model. LVL, PSL, glulam, I-joists, rim board and CLT are graded under different systems, so a single grade field ends up holding strings that cannot be compared. Depths are matched to I-joist series, and a 1-3/4 in LVL at 11-7/8 in is chosen because it lines up with the floor system, not because the name looks right.

The values an engineer needs are published with conditions attached. Bending stress for structural composite lumber is tied to a reference depth with a size adjustment, glulam can have different values for positive and negative bending, and bearing length is governed by compression perpendicular to grain. Supplier price files usually list size and length only, leaving the design data in a specifier guide that never reaches the catalog.

Stock lengths and selling units vary by product and yard: some beams are sold by the lineal foot and cut to length, others by the piece. Recording product type, dimensions, grade, design values, service condition and the governing product standard as separate fields keeps quotes and engineering review on the same record.

The engineered wood products attribute template

18 candidate fields in 4 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 9 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Brand / Product Line brand_product_line	Text	Core	Example Brand LVL 2.0E
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	LVL-20E-134-1178
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Core	10614141340047
Selling Unit of Measure selling_unit_of_measure	Controlled list	Core	LF

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Depth depth	Number · in	Core	11.875
Thickness / Net Width thickness_net_width	Number · in	Core	1.75
Stock Length stock_length	Number · ft	Core	24
Modulus of Elasticity (E) modulus_of_elasticity_e	Number · psi	Buyer decision	2000000
Reference Bending Stress (Fb) reference_bending_stress_fb	Number · psi	Buyer decision	2900 (at 12 in depth)
Horizontal Shear (Fv) horizontal_shear_fv	Number · psi	Buyer decision	285
Compression Perpendicular to Grain (Fc⊥) compression_perpendicular_to_grain	Number · psi	Buyer decision	750

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
EWP Product Type ewp_product_type	Controlled list	Core	Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)
Grade / Combination Symbol grade_combination_symbol	Text	Core	2.0E-2900Fb
Bond / Exposure Durability Classification bond_exposure_durability_classification	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Exterior adhesive; dry service

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Reference Product Standard reference_product_standard	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	ASTM D5456
Certification / Grade Stamp Agency certification_grade_stamp_agency	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Accredited third-party inspection agency
Formaldehyde Emission Status formaldehyde_emission_status	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Not a TSCA Title VI regulated composite wood product
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	United States

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Compression Perp. to Grain (Fc⊥)
• Minimum Bearing Length
• Maximum Web Hole Size and Location (I-joists)
• ICC-ES Evaluation Report Number (ESR)
• Chain-of-Custody Claim (FSC, SFI)

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing engineered wood products ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Will a 1-3/4 by 11-7/8 LVL line up with the I-joists on this floor?
• What E and Fb values do I give the engineer to check this header?
• Can I get it in a 24-foot length, or will it need a splice?
• Is it rated for weather exposure during construction, or dry use only?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ