13:15 Aug 11, 2011 

I couldn't agree more with A/T's comment, that 'technique' is sprinkled rather liberally around FR documents and doesn't always need translating; and in passing, let's just note that quite often, when it does need to be translated, the best translation turns out to be 'engineering' anyway — something you don't usually find in dictionaries!

12:42 Aug 11, 2011 

it is the dreaded "technique". For a start it is blatantly obvious that the subject matter is "technical" and secondly the French use this word for just about everything from flower arrranging to babysitting.

09:49 Aug 11, 2011 

See link

07:38 Aug 11, 2011 

Thanks both!!

07:36 Aug 11, 2011 

I'd say not to worry about the possibility of confusion: 'survey' is a relatively loose term, and inevitably there are differences between the systems in different countries. But generally, 'survey' is a good translation for 'diagnostic' in many instances.

I don't think 'report' is any more helpful, in fact, it might even be taken to imply something more detailed still; also, one might argue that one would hardly say 'to carry out a report', whereas one would indeed say 'to carry out a survey'. Personally, I think I'd save 'report' simply for referring to the document that is the outcome of this 'survey' — the surveyor's report, if you like!

07:32 Aug 11, 2011 

"Structural survey report" ??

07:24 Aug 11, 2011 

Thanks for the response Alan!

I've been reading around and it doesn't seem that surveys are as commonplace as in the UK and they do not cover the same areas.

Might it be better to call it a "Structural Report", to avoid comparisons to the UK survey?

06:53 Aug 11, 2011 

Hi Tony, yes, this document is from France.

06:51 Aug 11, 2011 

It seems to me that 'solidité' is far too important a word here for you to simply leave it out. Surely this particular survey is to do with the structural soundness of the building, or something along those lines? Not having come across this particular 'diagnostic' myself, I would strongly recommend your researching (if necessary, telephone one of the surveyors) to find out exactly what it does cover — I would imagine it is things like subsidence etc.