When architects search for building products, they're not just browsing — they're making decisions. The quality of the data behind each product directly affects whether yours gets shortlisted or skipped.
Acelab has invested significantly in building a structured, standardized product taxonomy so that every product in our database can be discovered, evaluated, and compared on an even playing field.
This article explains how that system works and what it means for you as a manufacturer partner.
What Is a Product Taxonomy?
A taxonomy is a classification system — a structured way of organizing things into categories so they can be reliably found and compared.
Think of it like the organizational system in a well-stocked library: every book has a subject, a genre, a section. Without that structure, finding what you need is guesswork. With it, discovery becomes fast and reliable. Acelab's taxonomy does the same thing for building products.
How Acelab Classifies Products
Every product in Acelab's database is organized using a hierarchy based on the MasterFormat standard — the industry's established system for categorizing construction products and materials.
The hierarchy has up to four levels:
Division — The broadest grouping, aligned with MasterFormat divisions (e.g., Division 08 – Openings)
Subdivision — A more specific product type within a division (e.g., Windows)
Group — Further refinement within a subdivision
Subgroup — The most specific classification level
This hierarchy isn't arbitrary. It's the same system architects use to structure their project specifications, which means a product's classification in Acelab maps directly to where it belongs in a project's spec. When an architect is working on Division 08, your windows appear where they expect to find them.
Standardized Product Attributes
Classification is only part of the picture. What makes Acelab's database genuinely useful is the depth and consistency of product data across every listing. For each product, Acelab standardizes the data into a set of defined fields across several categories, including but not limited to:
Performance Data
Measurable, comparable values — the kind of data that drives specification decisions. For windows, for example, this includes fields like U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), Visible Transmittance (VT), Condensation Resistance, Performance Class, Performance Grade, and Fire Rating.
Dimensions
Minimum and maximum width, height, and thickness — structured so they're filterable and comparable, not buried in a PDF.
Design Options
Finishes, hardware finishes, glazing options, grid profiles, and other configurable attributes, structured so architects can filter and compare options at a glance.
Certifications and Compliance
Fields like Energy Star zones, impact ratings, and AAMA ratings are standardized so they appear consistently across products — making it easy for architects to verify compliance for their project requirements.
Manufacturer Information
Company name, website, availability regions, building sectors served, and manufacturing location.
This structure is consistent across product types. Every manufacturer's products are held to the same data standard, so no single brand gets an advantage from unstructured or marketing-heavy listings.
💡 Check out this article to learn how the standard product attributes appear in your Products' Detail Pages
How This Powers Search and Filtering
When architects search on Acelab, they aren't just searching by keyword. The platform uses the taxonomy and standardized attributes to power a faceted search — a system of filters that narrows results based on structured data.
At the top level, architects can filter by:
Category — Mapped to the taxonomy
MasterFormat Section — Aligned with their specification structure
Manufacturer — To browse within a brand
Special Requirements — Project-specific criteria, such as sustainability
Primary Material — For material-driven searches
As they narrow their search, dynamic filters surface product-specific attributes relevant to the category — for example, performance class and glazing specs when searching windows, or fire rating and material type for other categories.
The result: your products appear in front of architects who are specifically looking for what you make, filtered to match their actual project requirements.
How This Benefits You as a Manufacturer
Your products are discoverable in context. Because Acelab's taxonomy references MasterFormat — the same system architects use to build specs — your products surface at the exact moment an architect is specifying that product type. You're not competing for general attention; you're appearing in the right section of their workflow.
Standardized data levels the comparison playing field. When architects compare products side by side on Acelab, they're comparing structured data: performance values, dimensions, certifications, and design options presented in a consistent format. If your product data is complete and accurate, it speaks for itself. Architects can evaluate your products without hunting through PDFs or contacting a rep just to get basic specs.
Complete data reduces friction before a conversation starts. Architects often do significant research before reaching out. When your product data is thorough, they arrive at a Rep Connect request or product inquiry already informed — which means shorter sales cycles and more productive conversations.
Your data is maintained to a consistent standard. Acelab works with manufacturers to ensure product data is accurate, current, and properly classified. This is an ongoing investment, not a one-time import. As your product line evolves, the data in Acelab should reflect it.