Pool chemical product attributes

Pool chemicals combine consumer product data with regulated chemical data. A buyer wants to know what the product does, what it contains and how much to use, while the distributor must also know whether it is a registered pesticide, how it ships and which certifications a commercial pool operator needs. Supplier files tend to cover the first set well and the second poorly.

Concentration values are easily confused. Calcium hypochlorite strength may be stated as percent of the active ingredient or as percent available chlorine, and the two are different quantities. Trichlor and dichlor add cyanuric acid to the water while cal hypo does not, which matters to anyone managing stabilizer levels.

Pack structure and regulatory identifiers vary per SKU. The same formulation can be sold in bags, buckets and pails with different shipping classifications, and the EPA registration number, NSF listing and UN number belong to the product as sold. Directions for use come from the product label, which the record should reference rather than paraphrase.

The pool chemicals attribute template

18 candidate fields in 4 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 8 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	CH-73-24
GTIN-12 (UPC) gtin_12_upc	Identifier	Core	012345732409
Container Size / Pack Configuration container_size_pack_configuration	Text	Core	24 x 1 lb bags (24 lb net)

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
Active Ingredient Concentration active_ingredient_concentration	Number · % w/w	Core	73
Available Chlorine available_chlorine	Number · %	Buyer decision	70 (minimum, as stated on label)
pH of 1% Solution ph_of_1_solution	Text	Buyer decision	10.4-10.8 at 25 °C
Tablet Diameter tablet_diameter	Number · in	Buyer decision	3 (tablet products only)
Label Dose Rate label_dose_rate	Text	Buyer decision	As on label, e.g. 1 lb per 10,000 gal for superchlorination

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
Product Function product_function	Controlled list	Core	Shock / oxidizer
Active Ingredient active_ingredient	Text	Core	Calcium hypochlorite (CAS 7778-54-3)
Form form	Controlled list	Core	Granular
Venue / Water Type venue_water_type	Controlled list	Core	Residential and commercial pools
Stabilized (Contains Cyanuric Acid) stabilized_contains_cyanuric_acid	Controlled list	Buyer decision	No

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
EPA Registration Number epa_registration_number	Identifier	Channel / evidence	12345-67
EPA Establishment Number epa_establishment_number	Identifier	Channel / evidence	54321-GA-001
NSF/ANSI Certification nsf_ansi_certification	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	NSF/ANSI 50
UN Number / Hazard Class / Packing Group un_number_hazard_class_packing_group	Identifier	Channel / evidence	UN2880, Class 5.1, PG II
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.

• Cyanuric acid contribution
• Feeder / chlorinator compatibility
• NSF/ANSI 50 listing for the specific formulation
• Shipping classification / parcel eligibility
• State pesticide registration status

Questions the record must answer

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

• Will this shock raise the cyanuric acid level in my pool?
• Can I load these tablets into the erosion feeder I already have?
• Is this product accepted for a commercial pool under our health department rules?
• Can it ship by ground parcel to a residential address?

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