Lamp and light bulb product attributes

Replacement lamps are bought to fit something that already exists, so the record has to answer fit questions first: bulb shape, base, overall length, voltage and, for LED tubes, how the lamp is wired into the fixture. Supplier data frequently mixes ANSI shape names with metric equivalents, writes the same base several ways, and lists an equivalent incandescent wattage where the actual input wattage belongs.

LED lamps add further traps. A lamp may dim cleanly on some controls and flicker on others. Enclosed-fixture and damp or wet location suitability are stated in small print. LED tubes come in types that use the existing ballast, bypass it, or run from an external driver, and choosing the wrong one creates rework. Rules on which lamp types may be sold also differ by jurisdiction and change over time.

The template below separates physical fit, light output, control compatibility and evidence so a counter rep can match an existing lamp and a buyer can compare replacements on measured values. Each attribute should be checked against the manufacturer's current packaging or specification sheet rather than copied from a marketplace listing.

The lamps & bulbs 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 (MPN) manufacturer_part_number_mpn	Identifier	Core	PAR38-15W-930-FL40
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Core	00812345381504

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
Wattage wattage	Number · W	Core	15.5
Initial Lumens initial_lumens	Number · lm	Core	1400
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) correlated_color_temperature_cct	Number · K	Core	3000
Voltage voltage	Number · V	Core	120
Maximum Overall Length (MOL) maximum_overall_length_mol	Number · in	Core	5.31
Color Rendering Index (CRI/Ra) color_rendering_index_cri_ra	Number	Buyer decision	90
Beam Angle beam_angle	Number · °	Buyer decision	40
Rated Life (L70) rated_life_l70	Number · h	Buyer decision	25000

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
Light Technology light_technology	Controlled list	Core	LED
Bulb Shape (ANSI) bulb_shape_ansi	Controlled list	Core	PAR38
Base Type base_type	Controlled list	Core	E26 medium screw

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
Dimming Compatibility dimming_compatibility	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Dimmable to 10%, NEMA SSL 7A
LED Tube Type (UL Type A / B / C) led_tube_type_ul_type_a_b_c	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Type B (ballast bypass, single-ended)

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
Safety Listing & Location Rating safety_listing_location_rating	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	UL 1993 listed; wet location
Efficiency Program Qualification efficiency_program_qualification	Text	Channel / evidence	Program name and listing ID as shown in the program database
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Mexico

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.

• Enclosed Fixture Rated
• LED Tube Type (UL Type A / B / C / A+B)
• Jurisdiction Sale Eligibility
• Dimmer Compatibility List
• Burning Position

Questions the record must answer

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

• Will this LED tube work with my existing ballast, or does the fixture need rewiring?
• Is this bulb rated for use in an enclosed fixture?
• Will it dim without flicker on the dimmers we already have?
• Is this lamp short enough to fit inside my recessed can?

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