Downlight product attributes

Recessed downlights combine a luminaire, an installation system and often a set of field-selectable options in one SKU, and supplier data rarely separates them cleanly. The nominal aperture (the 4 in or 6 in in the name) is not the hole a contractor cuts, and canless models, remodel housings and new-construction housings each install differently. Whether the unit may touch insulation or meets air-tight requirements is a listing question that decides where it can go.

Light output is another trap. Datasheets may quote source lumens, delivered lumens, or a range across several wattage and color temperature settings. A five-CCT switchable model and a fixed 3000 K model can share one base part number with a suffix doing the work. Color quality needs more than CRI; chromaticity consistency, stated in MacAdam steps, is what keeps a row of fixtures from looking mismatched.

The fields below keep dimensional fit, listing, photometry and control compatibility apart. That lets a buyer confirm the cutout, ceiling type, dimmer and color options suit the project, and lets a reviewer check each value against the specification sheet, the photometric file and the listing mark.

The downlights 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. 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
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	DL4-12L-5CCT-WH
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Core	00812345041200

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
Delivered Lumens delivered_lumens	Number · lm	Core	1250
Input Wattage input_wattage	Number · W	Core	14.3
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) correlated_color_temperature_cct	Controlled list · K	Core	Selectable 2700/3000/3500/4000/5000 K
Input Voltage input_voltage	Controlled list · V	Core	120–277 V
Color Rendering Index (CRI) color_rendering_index_cri	Number	Buyer decision	93
Chromaticity Consistency (SDCM) chromaticity_consistency_sdcm	Controlled list · step	Buyer decision	2-step

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
Aperture Size aperture_size	Controlled list · in	Core	4 in
Housing Type housing_type	Controlled list	Core	Canless, integrated junction box
Beam Angle beam_angle	Controlled list · °	Buyer decision	40° flood
Dimming Protocol dimming_protocol	Controlled list	Buyer decision	0–10 V to 1%
Trim Style & Finish trim_style_finish	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Round baffle, matte white

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
Ceiling Cutout Diameter ceiling_cutout_diameter	Number · in	Core	4.625

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
IC Rating ic_rating	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	IC-rated, air-tight (ICAT)
Location Listing location_listing	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Wet location
Listings & Certifications listings_certifications	Text	Channel / evidence	cULus (UL 1598, UL 8750); ENERGY STAR; CEC Title 24 JA8
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	CN

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.

• Ceiling Cutout Diameter
• Chromaticity Consistency (SDCM)
• DLC QPL ID / ENERGY STAR ID
• IES Photometric File
• Dimmer Compatibility / NEMA SSL 7A

Questions the record must answer

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

• What size hole do I need to cut for this downlight?
• Can this fixture be covered by attic insulation?
• Which color temperatures can be selected on this model?
• Will it dim smoothly on a 0-10 V control or a phase dimmer?

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