Flagpoles and masts: the different types

In one of our previous articles we focused on fabrics for flags, a fundamental element of the flag that determines its value, quality and resistance. We have seen the differences between the different materials, trying to identify the best fabric for flags depending on the needs of exposure and the type of flag itself.

The fabric, however, is not the only element to be taken into account, there is another fundamental element that can radically change the quality, value and institutionality of a flag or the pole or flagpole that support, support the flag.

Flagpoles and flagpoles are in fact as important as the flag itself, because they represent the “structure”, the spine  that supports the flag.

The choice of therod  (or flagpole) is never trivial, because it is essential that this is “up to” the flag it intends to support. A fine flag, made with the best fabrics, risks losing some of its charm if hoisted on an unsuitable rod, for example, to support the weight well or placed in a context different from the one for which it was designed.

Flagpoles and flagpoles are by no means all the same, of course they can be differentiated by heights and dimensions, but also the material or finish with which they are made, as well as some features and accessories, are extremely important.

So how to choose the right flagpoles or the right flagpoles? First of all it is essential to distinguish the different types between  outdoorrods,  indoor rods and flagpoles.

As you can imagine, a big difference between outdoor flagpoles and internor rodsis given by the materials with which they are made.

In the case of use indoors, in fact, you can also opt for more elaborate and refined rods, especially if the flag must be displayed in a particularly formal and institutional place. In these cases, you can think of using elegant velvet flagpoles,which can be single-color or multi-colored and that can show particular details such as, for example, brass or spiral chrome studs, as in military ones.

Still, always remaining on the rods for indoorflags, you can also choose between more elaborate materials such asbrass,  satin iron, satin chrome iron  orsatin aluminum. In addition, indoor flagpoles can vary in the diameter of the section and in the same height, in proportion to the environment in which they will be placed, and consequently will support flags with different sizes, although it is important that within the same environment there is harmony of exposure. Through the use of these materials, therod becomes much more than just a support, but an important element that contributes to the style of the flag on display.

These materials certainly have a certain charm, but they are not suitable to be used in situations of external exposure, for this reason there are specially the rods for flags for outdoor use, resistant to atmospheric agents.

In this case, in fact, there are other factors that become important for the flagpole, first of all the robustness, rigidity, solidity and resistance to atmospheric agents, whether they are wind, rain or sun.

For these reasons, the best outdoor flagpoles  usually have a larger diameter (35mm with a folder of at least 1.5) to ensure greater solidity and are made using one of the most resistant and versatile materials ever: aluminum, with satin treatment.

The rods for external flags, moreover, are also generally more “equipped” than those for indoor use, therefore equipped with some components able to adapt to weather conditions (first of all the wind), to improve resistance and to ensure that the flag is always exposed in the right way. Among these types we find, for example, the aluminum flag rods with rotating arm, complete with terminal and rotating arm to ensure that the flag rotates around the rod according to the direction of the wind, and in this way suffering less impacts and having the possibility of a longer life. Or there are the  aluminum flagpoles with pulley and rope,fundamental to easily manage the height of the flag and for a secure fixing, in which the flag can easily be managed even on the longest rods, this is the most suitable situation for public administrations in the case of flag display at half mast for days of public mourning.

Finally, the most “impressive” among the different types of rods and supports for the flags: the flagpoles.

The flagpoles are in fact special flagpoles that can range from a minimum of 5 meters to a maximum of 12 meters in height. Extremely solid and resistant, the flagpoles represent the type of rods for larger flags and are obviously used in outdoor environments  for  large flags, and usually in a stable plan, they are installed and are hardly removed or moved. If the rods are always removable or semi-permanent, or easier to transfer, the flagpoles are not, once placed, they are almost always for life, and it often happens that they are handed down in the real estate structure.

It is precisely for this mobility that even more than the outdoor flagpoles  mentioned above, the  flagpoles  must therefore be extremely solid and are carefully tested to withstand even strong winds and to adequately support the weight of flags or banners of various formats both vertical and the classic horizontal, and of various thickness and fabric.

The flagpoles  can be made mainly of aluminum  or  fiberglass, sometimes in steel, almost never in iron, and are carefully fixed by fixing them in the ground or with special anchor plates. They have, like the smallest rods, rotating systems to allow the flag to always be in favor of the wind, thus always ensuring maximum visibility, or a pulley system, to hoist the flag like the classic military flag-raiser.

Even the flagpoles can be divided into different types, depending on the mechanisms used to fix the flag that you want or need to exhibit, among which we can find:

– standard aluminum or fiberglass flagpoles, which mount the flag in a classic horizontal direction, and which can possibly be modified to carry the vertical flag through the wind track mechanism, with even the installation of the terminal with internal rope graft;

– flagpoles with rotating arm, for fixing the flag on the vertical side, then a narrow and long flag that always remains open and clearly visible; flagpoles with internal rope  and flag tensioner weight, to ensure that the flag is always well stretched.

We can safely argue that there are no limits to the possibility of displaying your flag.

For all types of flagpoles and flagpoles and to choose the right one for you,  download our catalog by clicking here.