Butterfly valve product attributes

A butterfly valve record has to answer two separate questions: will the valve fit the piping, and will it survive the service. Fit depends on size, body style (wafer, lug or double flanged) and the flange drilling it is made to match. Service depends on the seat, disc and stem materials, the pressure rating and the temperature range, which is often limited by the elastomer seat rather than the metal body.

Pressure data is where supplier files are least consistent. Resilient-seated valves are commonly rated by cold working pressure and described as compatible with a flange class, while high-performance valves carry a true ASME pressure class. Lug valves may have a lower rating when used for dead-end service with one side unbolted. These values often sit in footnotes on the data sheet rather than in the price file.

A buyer replacing or automating a valve also needs the top flange details: the ISO 5211 mounting pad and stem connection decide which actuator or gear operator bolts on. Without them, a valve that fits the pipe may still need an adapter kit to fit the actuator already on site.

The butterfly 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 manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	BFV-L06-DE-GO

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	6 in (DN 150)
Max Cold Working Pressure (CWP) max_cold_working_pressure_cwp	Number · psi	Core	200
Operating Temperature Range operating_temperature_range	Text · °F	Core	-20 to 250 °F
Dead-End Service Pressure Rating dead_end_service_pressure_rating	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	Ductile iron, ASTM A536 65-45-12
Disc Material disc_material	Controlled list	Core	316 SS (ASTM A351 CF8M)
Seat / Liner Material seat_liner_material	Controlled list	Core	EPDM
Stem / Shaft Material stem_shaft_material	Controlled list	Core	416 SS
Operator / Actuation Type operator_actuation_type	Controlled list	Core	Gear operator with handwheel
Disc Offset / Seat Design disc_offset_seat_design	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Concentric, resilient seated

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
Body Style / End Connection body_style_end_connection	Controlled list	Core	Lug
Mating Flange Standard / Class mating_flange_standard_class	Controlled list	Core	ASME B16.5 Class 150 drilling
ISO 5211 Mounting Pad iso_5211_mounting_pad	Controlled list	Buyer decision	F07

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
Design Standard / API 609 Category design_standard_api_609_category	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	API 609 Category A
Seat Leakage / Shutoff Class seat_leakage_shutoff_class	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Zero leakage per API 598
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 & 372 Certification nsf_ansi_can_61_372_certification	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Certified (listing on file)
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.

• Seating (break-away) torque
• Dead-end service pressure rating
• ISO 5211 mounting pad and stem connection
• Seat media compatibility
• Flow coefficient (Cv) at 90° open

Questions the record must answer

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

• Will this lug valve bolt between my Class 150 flanges?
• Can I mount my existing actuator on this valve without an adapter?
• What pressure can it hold at the end of a line with the downstream pipe removed?
• Is the seat rated for hot water at 200 °F?

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