B D Finch (asker) Dec 3, 2008:

Thanks Bourth That has sorted it out nicely. I should, possibly, have mentioned that this involves a Francophone country other than France. However, I think the same would apply. If you want some points, put this in as an answer. If not, I'll just close it this afternoon.

Bourth (X) Dec 2, 2008:

or equivalent You know how more commonly than we English the French will use a proprietary term as a generic. Thus "Bidim" (or "bidim") will mean "geosynthetic", "Neimann" will mean "steering column lock", "Rustine" will mean "puncture patch", etc. I think it is also very difficult to justify specifying material by brand (some sort of law against it, at least for public-sector contracts, or something ...). They get round that by specifying the name but, when challenged, saying that everyone knows they didn't actually require that brand, that that was just an example of the sort of thing they want. To get round the ban, they will specify things like densities or thicknesses or constituent parts in the certain knowledge that only the manufacturer whose materials they want makes the things to that particular specification. I have this from French civil engineers' mouths.<BR>For more on reference to brand names in public-sector contract specs see http://www.marche-public.fr/Marches-publics/Pratiques/Marche... for instance.
Also: La Cour de Justice des Communautés européennes a rendu, le 3 décembre 2001, une ordonnance aux termes de laquelle elle condamne, même en deçà de l’application des seuils de publicité européenne, l’adoption de clauses dans le cahier spécial des charges imposant l’emploi d’un produit défini par sa marque, sans possibilité de recourir à un produit similaire. Cette jurisprudence s’inscrit dans la suite logique de l’évolution du droit européen. En droit belge, on notera qu’elle se trouve déjà reprise, quelle que soit la valeur du marché, à l’article 85 de l’arrêté royal du 8 janvier 1996.
L’ordonnance est disponible sur le site via la rubrique « Jurisprudence », ou encore en cliquant directement ici :
http://www.marchespublics.be/Jurisprudence/CJCE/Ordonnances/... So "type" allows "recours à un produit similaire".

David Sirett Nov 30, 2008:

such as I usually go for your second option (such as XXXX, XXXX or equivalent) when I see this, though obviously the exact context may influence your decision. But I am not a French civil engineer...

MatthewLaSon Nov 30, 2008:

by du type XXXX = of the kind XXXX = by XXXX (this manufacturer makes it)

I don't think it's the second meaning you have listed.

Good luck.