Product data sheets: what to check before you specify
The data sheet is the document the specification rests on. Here is what’s on it, what to verify, and how to find the current one.
What’s on a data sheet
Product identity and model numbers; physical properties; performance values with the test standard each was measured to; certifications and listings; limitations and installation requirements; and a revision date.
The five things to verify
- 01
The revision date. — Data sheets change; the one in your files may not be the one the manufacturer publishes today.
- 02
The test standard behind each value. — A number without a standard is not a performance claim.
- 03
Agreement with the website. — When the sheet and the product page disagree, ask before you specify.
- 04
The listing reference. — The sheet should point to the certification, not just claim compliance.
- 05
The limitations section. — It’s where the conditions that void the rating live.
Finding the current sheet with Gaudi Pro
Gaudi Pro cites the manufacturer’s own data sheet in its answers, so the document you’re reading is the one the manufacturer publishes, with a confidence indicator telling you how directly it supports the answer. Start free