Suzie Withers Mar 11, 2021:

This article seems to refers to the "poutre de couronnement" as the "cope beam", so perhaps "cope beam edge"?

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/quay-walls

Suzie Withers Mar 11, 2021:

A couple of links. The first is the image of a quay that mentions the arête, and the second is a reference to "poutre de couronnement", which seems to be the edge piece of a Quay. Perhaps arête is the very edge of the poutre.
http://patrimoine.region-bretagne.fr/gertrude-diffusion/doss...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNM9mKGBE0A/U81Tv5BhcKI/AAAAAAAACI...

Jeff Steffin (asker) Mar 11, 2021:

Sure Phil, but not sure how it would fit in here? I've only found the term in this search and in a legifrance text on fire prevention measures (almost verbatim the same text) but no images or other clues as to what part of a wharf it would be.

Tony M Mar 11, 2021:

@ Asker I think you may find that the 'couronnement' could be the sort of coping stones laid along the edge of the quay, where they get a lot of wear, obviously; and the 'arête' will be the 'sharp' corner. But you'll need to check this, it's only a piecing together of vague recollections.
Could make sense, though: no fires near the buildings, and also, at least 10 m back from the edge of the quay.

philgoddard Mar 10, 2021:

Couronnement could mean roof.