OK, NOW that makes a whole lot of sense!

This is referring to a way of achieving approximately the correct torque by first tightening until resistance is felt, and then over-tightening from that point by a certain angular amount.

For example, supposing that the nut (etc.) being tightened is hexagonal; each flat will therefore represent 60°. So if you tighten to resistance, and then tighten by another n flats (i.e. n*60°), it will be possible to work out an approximate equivalent torque figure (which is presumably what their table gives you.

However, I haven't a clue how that would be expressed in FR, either literally, or indeed, if there is a specialist term!

'nombre de plats au-delà du moment où l'on ressent de la résistance à travers la clé' seems to me to convey the right idea, but is obviously nothing like proper French!

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Note added at 53 mins (2008-07-30 16:01:55 GMT)
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(it is that 'tighten further...' that makes it all clear)

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Note added at 1 day8 hrs (2008-07-31 23:41:36 GMT) Post-grading
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Just wish I could have been more help!