Skip to content
Flagpole Guides
Austria

Types of flagpoles in Austria – an overview

Published Written by

This page is an English translation of the German original. Where the two versions differ, the German text is the original.

Not every flagpole is the same. Depending on whether the flag is to fly in a garden, in front of a business, on a façade or at a festival, different designs come into question. In Austria, aluminium poles of around 7 metres are the most widespread, often with a vertical flag or with an arm for a banner flag.

Ground poles

The free-standing ground pole is the most common design. It stands in a ground sleeve or on a base plate set in a concrete foundation. The Austrian Armed Forces’ flag order describes the pole in barracks as free-standing, clearly visible and upright at ground level.

  • One-piece: according to Fahnen Gärtner, a one-piece pole consists of a single tube.
  • Two-piece: a two-piece pole is assembled from an upper and a lower section, which according to Fahnen Gärtner brings advantages for transport and storage.
  • Cylindrical or tapered: a cylindrical pole has the same diameter throughout, a tapered one narrows towards the top.

Poles with and without an arm

Without an arm, the flag flies freely. According to Fahnen Gärtner, it hangs down the pole in still air. With an arm, a banner flag is attached to a crossbar at the top of the pole so that it stays visible and fully spread even in little wind. An arm that rotates through 360 degrees follows the wind, which according to Fahnen Gärtner increases the flag’s effect and reduces the risk of wrapping. An arm is not a must: which version fits depends on the desired appearance.

For several poles with arms, Fahnen Gärtner gives a spacing of twice the arm length plus 50 cm, so that the flags do not touch.

External or internal halyard

  • External: the line runs outside the pole over a pulley in the truck and is tied off on a cleat.
  • Internal: the line runs inside the pole behind a lockable door. This protects against unauthorised lowering, and the line does not slap against the pole. Fahnen Gärtner lists versions with internal halyard and a crank mechanism.

How halyard, pulley and cleat work together is described in the guide to flagpole mechanics.

Wall and roof poles

Besides the free-standing pole, the Armed Forces’ flag order names other ways of flying flags on buildings:

  • Roof pole: a vertical pole on the roof, as the flag order provides for official and command buildings.
  • Angled wall pole: a pole on the front of the building at an angle of 45 degrees above the horizontal.
  • Wall bracket: a flag inserted in a bracket on the wall at the same angle.
  • Hanging flag: vertically on the façade, with a short staff at top and bottom.

A pole on the façade or roof interferes with the building. In condominiums, the consent of the other owners may be needed under section 16 of the Condominium Act 2002. More in the guide to flagpole installation.

Mobile poles

For festivals, fairs and events there are poles with a base or base plate that are set up without a foundation. The Armed Forces’ flag order also knows mobile flagpoles; in a field camp a pole can be set up in the middle of the camp. With mobile poles, stability depends on the weight of the base and the flag size.

Groups of poles

In front of businesses, hotels and municipal offices there are often several poles side by side, for example for the Austrian, state, European and company flags. Under the Armed Forces’ flag order, the poles of a group are the same height and each carries only one flag. Which flag goes on which pole is described in the guide to flag protocol.

Which material suits which pole is described in the guide to flagpole materials, and the usual heights in the guide to flagpole heights.

Frequently asked questions

What types of flagpoles are there in Austria?

Common are ground poles in one-piece or two-piece versions, poles with or without an arm, wall poles on façades, roof poles and mobile poles with a base. They also differ by an external or internal halyard.

What is the advantage of a two-piece flagpole?

According to the maker Fahnen Gärtner, a one-piece pole consists of a single tube, a two-piece pole of an upper and a lower section. This brings advantages for transport and storage, because the sections are shorter.

Does a flagpole need an arm?

No. According to Fahnen Gärtner, an arm keeps the flag visible and fully spread even in little wind; without an arm the flag moves freely and hangs down the pole in still air. An arm that rotates through 360 degrees follows the wind and reduces the risk of the flag wrapping.

How far apart do several flagpoles stand?

For poles with arms, Fahnen Gärtner gives twice the arm length plus 50 cm as the spacing. Under the Austrian Armed Forces’ flag order, the poles of a group are the same height and each carries only one flag.

Which pole suits an official building?

The Armed Forces’ flag order provides for a vertical pole on the roof of official and command buildings and a free-standing pole at ground level in barracks. As further forms it names a pole at an angle of 45 degrees on the front of the building and hanging flags on the façade.

Sources

This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in German:

Related guides