Pool filter product attributes

Sand, cartridge and diatomaceous earth filters all sit under one category, but they are rated very differently. A sand filter's area is the tank's cross-section, a cartridge's is the pleated media surface, and each type is certified at a different flow per square foot. Comparing a 50 square foot D.E. filter with a 50 square foot cartridge on area alone gives the wrong answer.

Much of the data that decides a sale is not about filtration. Whether the multiport valve is included, whether it mounts on the top or side, how much sand the tank takes and how much overhead clearance is needed to pull a cartridge are all practical questions that supplier files often leave out.

Replacement parts drive repeat business. A cartridge filter record that carries its replacement element part number, and a sand filter record that states media charge and grade, makes the reorder straightforward. Certification data should be stored as the specific rated values from the listing, not a generic certified flag.

The pool filters 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	SF-30-SM
GTIN-12 (UPC) gtin_12_upc	Identifier	Core	012345303005

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
Effective Filtration Area effective_filtration_area	Number · ft²	Core	4.91
Design Flow Rate design_flow_rate	Number · gpm	Core	98
Maximum Working Pressure maximum_working_pressure	Number · psi	Core	50
Tank Diameter tank_diameter	Number · in	Core	30
Media Charge Required media_charge_required	Number · lb	Buyer decision	500 (#20 silica sand)
Nominal Micron Rating nominal_micron_rating	Number · µm	Buyer decision	20-40

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
Filter Type filter_type	Controlled list	Core	High-rate sand
Installation Type installation_type	Controlled list	Core	In-ground
Tank Material tank_material	Controlled list	Core	Fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene
Valve Included valve_included	Controlled list	Buyer decision	No (valve sold separately)

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
Port / Plumbing Connection Size port_plumbing_connection_size	Controlled list · in	Core	2 in
Valve Mount Position valve_mount_position	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Side mount
Vertical Clearance for Element Removal vertical_clearance_for_element_removal	Number · in	Buyer decision	56 (cartridge models)
Replacement Element Part Number replacement_element_part_number	Identifier	Buyer decision	CE-420 (cartridge models)

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
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Core	United States
NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 Rated Filtration Rate nsf_ansi_can_50_rated_filtration_rate	Number · gpm/ft²	Channel / evidence	20

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.

• Valve included / valve mount position
• Vertical clearance for element removal
• Replacement element part number
• Media charge required
• NSF/ANSI/CAN 50 listed values (area, flow, pressure)

Questions the record must answer

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

• Does this come with the multiport valve, and is it top mount or side mount?
• How many 50 lb bags of sand do I need to fill it?
• Is there enough headroom in my equipment shed to pull the cartridge out?
• Can it handle the 80 gpm my pump pushes at full speed?

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