Duct and duct fitting product attributes

Duct and fittings multiply into thousands of SKUs from a small set of variables: shape, diameter, gauge, fitting type, angle, wall construction and length. Supplier price sheets usually compress all of that into a short description or a part number code, so the attributes a buyer filters on have to be decoded rather than read directly from a column.

Gauge is the classic ambiguity. The same gauge number refers to different thicknesses for galvanized and uncoated steel, and it says nothing about the zinc coating weight. A record that stores only "26 ga" cannot answer whether a fitting meets a job specification calling for a minimum thickness or a G90 coating.

Fit details decide whether pieces go together on site. Crimped and plain ends, branch diameters on tees and wyes, and centerline radius on elbows all matter. Performance and code data such as pressure class, insulation R-value and listings for flexible or duct board products are stated in submittals rather than on the item itself, and often go missing when products move between systems.

The duct & fittings 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. 10 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	SWR-0826-60
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Core	012345082665

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 Diameter nominal_diameter	Number · in	Core	8
Metal Thickness (Gauge) metal_thickness_gauge	Controlled list · ga	Core	26 ga (0.0217 in nominal)
Nominal Length nominal_length	Number · in	Core	60 (straight pipe)
Pressure Class pressure_class	Text · in w.g.	Buyer decision	±2 in w.g.
Insulation R-Value insulation_r_value	Number · h·ft²·°F/Btu	Buyer decision	6.0

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
Fitting Type fitting_type	Controlled list	Core	90° elbow, 5-gore adjustable
Duct Shape duct_shape	Controlled list	Core	Round
Material material	Controlled list	Core	Galvanized steel
Wall Construction wall_construction	Controlled list	Core	Single-wall
Elbow Angle elbow_angle	Number · °	Buyer decision	90
Zinc Coating Designation zinc_coating_designation	Controlled list	Buyer decision	G90
Seam Construction seam_construction	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Spiral lockseam

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
End Connection Type end_connection_type	Controlled list	Core	Crimped one end / plain one end
Branch / Outlet Diameter branch_outlet_diameter	Number · in	Buyer decision	6

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
UL 181 Listing (Flexible Duct / Duct Board) ul_181_listing	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	UL 181 Class 1 air duct
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.

• Zinc coating designation (G60 / G90)
• Centerline radius ratio on elbows
• Maximum service temperature
• Gasket material and temperature range
• Gore count on adjustable elbows

Questions the record must answer

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

• Do you stock an 8 by 6 inch wye in 26 gauge?
• Will this crimped end slide into the 8 inch collar on my plenum?
• Is this pipe rated for 2 in w.g. positive pressure on a commercial job?
• Is the insulated flex R-6 or R-8, for the attic run the code requires?

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