Understanding the Storage Tanks Category
The Storage Tanks category, identified by the Google Product Category ID 1910, falls under the Hardware parent category. This classification is specifically reserved for industrial, agricultural, and residential vessels designed for the containment of liquids, chemicals, or bulk materials where the primary function is static storage rather than active transportation or fuel dispensing.
What Belongs in This Category
This category is intended for heavy-duty containers designed to hold large volumes of substances over extended periods. Based on product examples found in the US market, this category includes:
- Water Storage Tanks: Both residential and emergency-grade containers designed for potable water, including vertical poly tanks and rain harvesting systems.
- Industrial Bulk Containers: Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) used for storing and transporting various fluids in industrial settings.
- Specialized Utility Tanks: Various flat-bottom, domed, or square-shaped tanks designed for utility storage, including those equipped with legs for elevated positioning.
- Rotomolded Polyethylene Tanks: Heavy-duty containers manufactured for durability and chemical resistance.
These products are characterized by their stationary nature and their construction, which is typically optimized for the long-term containment of liquids like water, chemicals, or specialized bulk substances.
What Does Not Belong Here
It is important to differentiate Storage Tanks from similar items that fall into the neighbouring Hardware categories. If your product does not fit the definition above, consider these alternatives:
- Fuel Containers & Tanks: If your product is specifically designed to store or dispense fuel (such as gasoline or diesel), it belongs in the Fuel Containers & Tanks category, not here.
- Hardware Pumps: If the primary item is a pump or a pressurized pumping system rather than the tank itself, it should be mapped to Hardware Pumps.
- Plumbing: Small-scale components, pipes, fittings, or valves used for residential plumbing systems are classified under Plumbing.
- Building Materials: Large-scale structural items, concrete, or general construction supplies fall under Building Materials.
- Fuel: The Fuel category is reserved for the combustible material itself, not the container holding it.
Ensuring that you distinguish between a tank designed for general utility storage and one designed specifically for hazardous fuel or pressurized pumping systems is vital for the accuracy of your feed.
Feed Implementation and Best Practices
When updating your Google Merchant Center feed, you have two options for the google_product_category attribute: the numeric ID or the full path. Both are accepted, though the numeric ID is often preferred for technical stability as it is language-independent.
- Category ID: 1910
- Full Path: Hardware > Storage Tanks
While the google_product_category attribute is technically optional, providing it helps Google understand your product taxonomy. If left blank, Google will attempt to auto-categorize the product, which can lead to misclassification and lower ad relevance. Note that the product_type attribute is an entirely separate, free-form field that you should use for your internal organization—it does not replace the Google-mandated category. Finally, keep in mind that unlike apparel, this category does not generally require specific attributes like size or color, allowing you to focus on descriptive titles and technical specifications to help customers find exactly what they need.