Irrigation valve product attributes

Irrigation control valves are sold in families where one base model spawns many SKUs through option suffixes: flow control, pressure regulation, reclaimed-water trim, different connections and different solenoids. Supplier price lists often show the suffix code and little else, so the catalog has to translate each code into attributes a buyer can filter on.

The solenoid is a frequent source of wrong orders. Most residential and commercial controllers drive 24 VAC solenoids, while battery-operated controllers need DC latching solenoids that are not interchangeable with them. Connection data is similar: female NPT, slip and BSP threads can appear on visually identical bodies sold in different regions.

Hydraulic data decides whether a valve suits a zone. Flow range says what the valve can control, but pressure loss at the design flow says how much pressure is left for the heads downstream. Many supplier files carry the first and omit the second, which sits in a manufacturer's friction loss table.

The irrigation 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. 11 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	IV-100-FC
GTIN / UPC gtin_upc	Identifier	Core	012345100109

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)
Operating Pressure Range operating_pressure_range	Text · psi	Core	20-150 psi (1.4-10.3 bar)
Flow Range flow_range	Text · gpm	Core	0.2-40 gpm (0.8-150 L/min)
Pressure Loss at Design Flow pressure_loss_at_design_flow	Number · psi	Buyer decision	4.8 psi at 30 gpm

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 Pattern body_pattern	Controlled list	Core	Globe / angle (convertible body)
Actuation Type & Fail State actuation_type_fail_state	Controlled list	Core	Electric solenoid, normally closed
Body Material body_material	Controlled list	Core	Glass-filled nylon
Diaphragm Material diaphragm_material	Controlled list	Core	Fabric-reinforced nitrile (Buna-N)
Flow Control flow_control	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Yes, external flow control handle
Pressure Regulation pressure_regulation	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Optional module, 15-100 psi, ordered separately
Debris Handling debris_handling	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Self-flushing stainless steel filter screen
Reclaimed-Water (Non-Potable) Configuration reclaimed_water_non_potable_configuration	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Purple handle, chlorine-resistant diaphragm

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
Inlet x Outlet Connection inlet_x_outlet_connection	Controlled list	Core	1 in FNPT x 1 in FNPT
Solenoid Rating solenoid_rating	Controlled list	Core	24 VAC, 50/60 Hz

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
Anti-Siphon / Backflow Listing anti_siphon_backflow_listing	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	None (in-line valve; separate backflow assembly required)
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.

• Solenoid inrush and holding current
• Pressure regulation: whether a module is included, and its range
• Reclaimed-water (non-potable) configuration
• Bonnet access type (jar-top vs bolted)
• Installed dimensions (H x L x W)

Questions the record must answer

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

• Will this 1 inch valve handle a 25 gpm zone without losing too much pressure?
• Will it work with my battery-powered controller, or does it need 24 VAC?
• Does it have flow control so I can throttle the zone?
• Is there a purple reclaimed-water version for our recycled water system?

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