Air handler product attributes

An air handler record is only half of a system. Its efficiency, capacity and even its approved refrigerant are defined by the outdoor unit it is matched with, so a supplier sheet that lists one SEER2 figure against the indoor model is quietly describing a single pairing. The catalog has to keep the air handler's own physical and electrical facts separate from the matched-system ratings that belong to a specific combination.

The physical facts are where installers get burned. Cabinet width decides whether the unit sits on an existing platform or lines up with a furnace or plenum, and a multiposition cabinet may still need a kit for downflow. Line connection sizes, filter rack dimensions and the factory metering device are often printed only on the installation manual, not on the spec sheet the distributor receives.

Electric heat is the other trap. The same cabinet accepts a range of heat kits, and each kit changes the minimum circuit ampacity and maximum overcurrent protection. A usable record states which kits are approved and points to the electrical data for each combination instead of repeating one amp figure.

The air handlers attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 8 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
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	AHX-36B-21
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Channel / evidence	012345603617

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
Nominal Cooling Capacity nominal_cooling_capacity	Number · ton	Core	3 ton (36,000 Btu/h)
Rated Airflow rated_airflow	Number · CFM	Core	1,200 CFM
Cabinet Width cabinet_width	Number · in	Core	17.5 in
Cabinet Dimensions (H x W x D) cabinet_dimensions_h_x_w_x_d	Text · in	Core	47-1/2 x 17-1/2 x 21-7/16 in
Voltage / Phase / Frequency voltage_phase_frequency	Controlled list	Core	208/230 V, 1 Ph, 60 Hz
Coil Rows / Fins Per Inch coil_rows_fins_per_inch	Text	Buyer decision	3 rows, 14 FPI

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
Installation Configuration installation_configuration	Controlled list	Core	Multiposition (upflow / downflow / horizontal L/R)
Blower Motor Type blower_motor_type	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Variable-speed ECM
Metering Device metering_device	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Factory-installed TXV

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Design Refrigerant design_refrigerant	Controlled list	Core	R-454B
Refrigerant Line Connection Sizes refrigerant_line_connection_sizes	Text · in	Buyer decision	3/8 in liquid / 3/4 in vapor, sweat
Filter Size and Rack Type filter_size_and_rack_type	Text · in	Buyer decision	16 x 20 x 1 in, internal rack
Approved Electric Heat Kit Range approved_electric_heat_kit_range	Text · kW	Buyer decision	5-15 kW, field-installed kits

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
AHRI Certified Reference Number ahri_certified_reference_number	Identifier	Channel / evidence	201234567 (matched system, AHRI 210/240)
Safety Certification safety_certification	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	cETLus, UL/CSA 60335-2-40
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.

• Refrigerant safety class (A1 vs A2L) as its own governed value
• AHRI reference number and the outdoor model it is matched with
• Approved electric heat kits with the resulting MCA / MOP
• Metering device (factory TXV, piston, or field-installed)
• Refrigerant line connection sizes

Questions the record must answer

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

• Is this air handler rated with the 3-ton R-454B condenser I already have on the pad?
• Will it fit in a closet that is 20 inches wide, and does downflow need a kit?
• Can I add a 10 kW heat strip, and what breaker size does that combination need?
• Does it ship with a TXV installed, or do I need to buy one separately?

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