Ball valve product attributes

Ball valve data looks simple until two suppliers describe the same 1 in valve differently. One prints 600 WOG, another prints 600 CWP and 150 SWP, and a third gives only a PN class. Port type is a label, not a dimension, so a reduced-port valve from one maker can have a larger bore than a full-port valve from another. Records that keep the raw label but skip the bore make flow comparisons guesswork.

The evidence fields are where most catalog errors cause real problems. Lead-free content, drinking-water certification and fuel-gas listings are separate claims, often granted only for certain sizes or end connections within a series. A buyer replacing a valve on a domestic water line or a gas branch needs to see which claim applies to the exact part number, and which document backs it.

Automation work adds another layer. An actuator only mounts cleanly when the valve's ISO 5211 pad and stem size are recorded, and supplier price files rarely include them. Capturing size, connection, pressure basis, seat material and mounting interface as structured fields lets counter staff and search both answer replacement questions without opening a PDF submittal.

The ball valves 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	BV-2100-04
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Channel / evidence	614141210015

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 Valve Size nominal_valve_size	Controlled list · in	Core	1 in (DN 25)
Max Working Pressure (CWP) max_working_pressure_cwp	Number · psi	Core	600
Temperature Rating temperature_rating	Text · °F	Core	-20 to 400 °F
Bore Diameter bore_diameter	Number · in	Buyer decision	1.00
Flow Coefficient (Cv) flow_coefficient_cv	Number	Buyer decision	60
Steam Working Pressure (SWP) steam_working_pressure_swp	Number · psi	Buyer decision	150

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
Body Material body_material	Controlled list	Core	Lead-free bronze (C89833)
Port Type port_type	Controlled list	Core	Full Port
Body Construction body_construction	Controlled list	Core	Two-Piece
Seat & Body Seal Material seat_body_seal_material	Controlled list	Core	RPTFE seat, EPDM body O-ring
Operator Type operator_type	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Lockable lever handle

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 end_connection	Controlled list	Core	FNPT x FNPT
ISO 5211 Mounting Pad iso_5211_mounting_pad	Controlled list	Buyer decision	F05, 11 mm square stem

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
Potable Water Certification potable_water_certification	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	NSF/ANSI/CAN 61-G; NSF/ANSI/CAN 372
Gas Service Listing gas_service_listing	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	ASME B16.33; CSA/ANSI Z21.15
Design & Test Standard design_test_standard	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	MSS SP-110

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.

• Flow Coefficient (Cv)
• Pressure Rating at Elevated Temperature
• ISO 5211 Mounting Pad Code
• Bore Diameter
• Certification Scope by Size Range

Questions the record must answer

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

• Is this a true full-port valve, or will it choke flow compared with the pipe?
• Can it go on a domestic water line that has to be lead-free?
• Is it listed for natural gas, or only rated for water service?
• Can an actuator bolt straight onto it without an adapter bracket?

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