arbalétrier

English translation: (firestopping to) pipework penetrations

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

French term or phrase:	arbalétrier
English translation:	(firestopping to) pipework penetrations
Entered by:	B D Finch

09:58 Mar 11, 2017

French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Construction / Civil Engineering / asbestos survey

French term or phrase: arbalétrier

I am translating a report on an asbestos survey in a building. This is perfectly good native-speaker FR, and the document comes from mainland France.

This term comes up as some kind of element that might contain asbestos — but in fact, the analysis subsequently proves that it does not.

Now I am aware of the usual meaning of 'rafter' in the sense of roof timbers — but here it is nothing whatever to do with that! Nor is it clearly anything to do with a type of fish. [GDT, Termium, IATE]

It is in fact associated with the walls, and from the illustrations I have, it appears to be some kind of square panel closing off quite a large a hole in a wall (I'd estimate something like 50 cm square or even more) through which a circular pipe passes — presumably for fire-stop purposes etc. It appears to contain some kind of lagging material, so I cannot see if this term actually refers simply to a wad of fireproof material, or if there is any kind of plywood or other panel hidden behind it. As far as I can ascertain, there are lots of these in the building — presumably everywhere a 'fat' pipe passes through a wall!

I did even wonder if the term is being used to refer not to the stopping material, but rather, to the actual hole itself, which might I suppose in some way be considered as a kind of 'arrow slit'!

I am at a loss to understand how the term 'arbalétier' comes to be used for this, but leaving that aside, I am at something of a loss too to know exactly what to call this in EN anyway!

This term does not appear in any sentence, it just appears in a table as a location where testing was carried out.

Thnaks in advance for your help!

Tony M KudoZ activity Questions: 333 (2 open) (30 closed without grading) Answers: 15219 France
Local time: 04:26

(firestopping to) pipework penetrations

Explanation:
I've checked this in Dicobat and it's given there as "Fine meurtrière ... souvent en forme de croix et largement ébrasée vers l'intérieur". Of course, the difference between firing a crossbow and a longbow is probably that the former allows one to sight along the arrow, so the loophole doesn't have to be a vertical slit.

The above is all rather irrelevant to your context, except for the hole not needing to be a vertical slit. So, I'd abandon all reference to castles and crossbows.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2017-03-11 13:16:25 GMT)
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www.onr.org.uk/new-reactors/uk-abwr/reports/ro-abwr-0065.pd... penetrations during all operating modes and for ... replacement of “Lead Wool” as circumferential shielding material around pipework penetrations through.

www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/.../13.00020.CCDFUL - Approved ... Sound Insulation: Walls & Doors. 4. 4.3. Reverberation ..... Any gaps remaining around pipework penetrations must be sealed with a continuous bead of ...

tenders.humphriesconstruction.co.nz/.../15012%20Broadway%20Radiology%20Cente...15 Mar 2016 - 5.2 Seismic Restraints 12. 5.3 Fire/Smoke Sealing of Fire Rated Penetrations 13. 5.4 Wall Penetrations 13. 5.5 PVC Pipework Penetrations 13.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2017-03-11 13:20:22 GMT)
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This is just for a nice picture of an keyhole embrasure with a round hole just waiting to have the castle W.C. installed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrasure

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Note added at 2 days9 hrs (2017-03-13 19:30:15 GMT)
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https://goo.gl/XhdPYo
"Insulation to Pipework Encapsulated Insulation material within unit
2213/B00E/R0011/Pipework penetration coating/S10 No Asbestos Detected"

Selected response from:

B D Finch
France
Local time: 04:26

Grading comment

Thanks you so much, B. for your wealth of information and entertaining quips! I remain as puzzled as you as to just how this term came to be used in my document, but I think your suggestion is the only reasonable explanation, so that's what I have used. I leave you the pleasure and privilege of making a glossary entry!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +1

arbalestina, arbalesteria, balistraria, ballistraria

Nikki Scott-Despaigne

(firestopping to) pipework penetrations

B D Finch

Summary of reference entries provided

rafter

Johannes Gleim

GDT

Nikki Scott-Despaigne

Discussion entries: 8

B D Finch

France

A possible explanation

19:38 Mar 13, 2017

I really think that, if you know these are holes in walls that pipes go through, there is no point calling them anything other than "pipework penetrations". However, it is odd that they are referred to as "arbalétriers" and the only reason I can think of is that they might possibly be larger on one face (interior?) of the wall than on the other. As this is an asbestos survey, not a detailed, aesthetic description of the building, the term seems just a bit fanciful/playful, even if used for that reason.

Johannes Gleim

@ Tony

10:23 Mar 12, 2017

In German it also refers to roof rafters and trusses, called "Sparren".

Given the fact it might cover an opening or hole in the wall, I am considering the term "meutrier" again, "arrowslit" in English, as an "arbalétrier" was a crossbowman.
You may use any specific constructional term for that hole. What about "passing hole"?

Anyway, I would make a note for the client and/or ask for explanations or details of that part.

philgoddard

United States

Could it be this?

03:32 Mar 12, 2017

Definition 2.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/embrasure

Tony M

France

ASKER

@ RCOLIN

12:41 Mar 11, 2017

Thanks, nice idea, but sadly not here!
It is very clear that these are specific locations within a particular building, whose geographic location is given.

Raoul COLIN (X)

arbalétrier - name of a building/of a location

12:33 Mar 11, 2017

it just appears in a table as a location where testing was carried out -
in such a context it is possible that the location has taken the name of a street (some of them do appear in Google).

Nikki Scott-Despaigne

12:09 Mar 11, 2017

Maybe they meant "arablétrière", a loop hole. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrasure
Given your description, in spite of the fact that the hole has been closed off, it may still be being referred to as the hole it once was.

Tony M

France

ASKER

@ Nikki

10:32 Mar 11, 2017

That's very much the conclusions I have been coming to — it's certainly not anything to do with a piece of structural timber!
But I can't really see any logic in calling a hole in a wall a 'meurtrier' either — except perhaps that it might sometimes be a 'slit' in order to accommodate several pipes.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne

10:29 Mar 11, 2017

Do you think they may have used "arbalétrier" instead of "meurtrière"?

Answers

5 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

arbalestina, arbalesteria, balistraria, ballistraria

Explanation:
1. Arbalestina, arbalesteria, arrow-loop, loop-hole, or similar aperture, frequently cruciform, in a medieval wall through which bowmen (arbalesters) fired arrows or bolts.
2. Store-room for arbalests (crossbows) or similar weapons.

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Note added at 5 hrs (2017-03-11 15:00:12 GMT)
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Source : Oxford Dictionary of Architecture, James Stevens Curl, OUP 1999, p 50.
Sorry, my edition is ancient!

Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Local time: 04:26
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 50

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks a lot, Nikki, for your very comprehensive response. Sadly though, as I stated in my question, there is clearly nothing about my context that could justify the use of an archaic military term, and even a figurative use here would have to be extraordinarily fanciful (and quite out of keeping with the dry tone of the rest of the document). I'm sure your answer will be of help to future users of the glossary!

3 hrs confidence:

(firestopping to) pipework penetrations

B D Finch
France
Local time: 04:26
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 915

Grading comment

Reference comments

12 hrs

Reference: rafter

Reference information:
Arbalétrier est un terme de charpenterie.

Dans une ferme de charpente, il s'agit d'une pièce posée obliquement supportant les pannes. Les deux arbalétriers forment un triangle avec l'entrait (qui constitue la base du triangle).

Cette pièce fonctionne, dans une ferme en treillis, en compression, alors que l'entrait travaille en traction, dans une ferme à traverses pleines, l'arbalétrier reprend des efforts de compression et de flexion.
https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbalétrier_(charpente)

A rafter is one of a series of sloped structural members (beams) that extend from the ridge or hip to the wall plate, downslope perimeter or eave, and that are designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads.[2] A pair of rafters is a couple.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafter

Johannes Gleim
Works in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 189

Note to reference poster

Asker: Danke Johannes! As I said above, I am well aware of the usual meanings in a ciontext of roof timbers, but my context is perfectly clear (including photos) that this cannot be anything to do with roofs. I suspect this is either some regional usage (eastern France) or that the report writer simply got it wrong. Back-translating to German, is there any other word it might have started out as? Something to do with a hole or opening?

28 mins

Reference: GDT

Reference information:
Hello Tony,
As "arbelète" is (cross)bow, then this is probably a support of some kind. The GDT gives suggestions along the lines of rafter, some kind of horizontal support.
arbalétrier FR • principal rafter EN
bâtiment
[ + ]
Pièce inclinée d'une ferme de charpente qui reçoit les pannes et constitue l'un des deux côtés du triangle dont l'entrait est la base.

Pièce essentielle d'une ferme de charpente assemblée à sa partie haute au sommet du poinçon et, à sa partie basse, à l'extrémité de l'entrait.

Membrure supérieure de la poutre triangulée appelée ferme qui, dans un comble, supporte les pannes et les autres éléments de la toiture.
1982
arbalétrier FR • awning stretcher EN
loisir
Support transversal d'une toile de tente.
Gruss, Robert, 1978
arbalétrier FR
bâtiment
Pièce de charpente inclinée entrant dans la composition d'une ferme et supportant les pannes.
Conseil international de la langue française, 1975
élément supérieur FR • upper chord EN
bâtiment
Moreau, J., 1960

The GDT entry for "chevron" may help : chevron

Domaine
bâtiment > charpente
Auteur
Logo identifiant une fiche rédigée par l’Office québécois de la langue française Office québécois de la langue française, 1989
Définition
Chacune des longues pièces de bois ou de métal fixées sur les pannes d'une charpente, dans le sens de la pente du toit, pour recevoir le lattis ou la volige de couverture.
Termes jugés adéquats pour désigner le concept à l’intérieur d’un domaine spécialisé, conformes au système linguistique du français ou acceptables en vertu des politiques officielles de l’Office
Termes privilégiés
chevron n. m.
chevron commun n. m.
chevron intermédiaire n. m.
arbalétrier commun n. m.
chevron de long pan n. m.
Anglais
Auteur
Logo identifiant une fiche rédigée par l’Office québécois de la langue française Office québécois de la langue française, 1989
Termes
common rafter
intermediate rafter
spar

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Note added at 29 mins (2017-03-11 10:28:08 GMT)
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Sorry, I meant to edit out the bit about "rafter", or at least reduce it. Still, it's there for prosperity. The "chevron" entry may help?

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Note added at 3 days1 hr (2017-03-14 11:00:20 GMT) Post-grading
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I too suspect that the wrong term has been used. It needs a great deal of creativity to consider "arbalétrier" as a suitable term for what this no doubt is. Regional usage or error probably do come into it.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 50

Note to reference poster

Asker: Thnaks a lot Nikki! As I said above, I am well aware of the usual meanings in a ciontext of roof timbers, but my context is perfectly clear (including photos) that this cannot be anything to do with roofs.

Asker: I suspect this is either some regional usage (eastern France) or that the report writer simply got it wrong.

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arbalétrier

English translation: (firestopping to) pipework penetrations

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