Price of a flagpole in Brazil: what affects it

The price of a flagpole varies widely: an indoor pole for a panóplia and a 30-metre polygonal pole are products of a different order. This guide does not give figures, which change with the manufacturer, the region and the project, but explains what determines the price of a flagpole and what rights buyers have.

Height and price

Height is the first factor. Taller poles use more material, larger tubes at the base and bigger foundations. In B&B Iluminação’s datasheet, the base diameter grows from 76.2 millimetres on a 6-metre pole to 127 millimetres on a 12-metre one, and the weight of an embedded pole from about 23 to 67 kilograms. Above 15 metres, manufacturers move to polygonal poles, such as Metalsinter’s of 18 to 30 metres. The guide to flagpole heights relates height to the size of the flag.

Material and price

For outdoor poles, the manufacturers consulted use hot-dip galvanised steel. B&B Iluminação gives SAE 1010/1020 carbon steel tubes with a 2.0-millimetre wall, hot-dip galvanised to NBR 6323. The wall thickness, the type of steel and the coating weigh on the price and on durability. The guide to flagpole materials compares the options.

Fixing and fittings

• Embedded or flanged: an embedded pole has its base set in the foundation; a flanged pole comes with a base plate, anchor bolts and brackets, extra parts in the price, with slotted holes in the plate for levelling the pole.
• Hoisting fittings: the pulley, guide washer, cleat and line may be included, as in B&B’s sheet, which speaks of fittings ready for use, or sold separately.
• Joints: telescopic poles in several sections use removable or fixed joints, which affect transport and assembly.

The guide to flagpole accessories describes these parts.

What comes on top of the pole

The final price of an installed flagpole brings together other costs:

• design and permit: in São Paulo, applications for building control documents are signed by the owner together with a qualified professional (article 7 of the Building and Construction Code), and there are municipal fees;
• foundation: the concrete block, sized for the wind, grows with the height of the pole and the size of the flag;
• transport and lifting: long poles may need a lorry and lifting equipment; the guide to flagpole transport covers this point;
• lighting: if the flag stays up at night, Law 5,700 provides that it is lit, which adds floodlights and electrical work;
• flags: the flag is bought separately, and its outdoor life is limited; the guide on the price of a flag covers it.

Standards and price

A pole designed for the local wind follows technical standards. B&B Iluminação cites NBR 6123 (wind forces), NBR 6323 (galvanised steel), NBR NM 87 (carbon steels) and NBR 8800 (steel structures); Metalsinter gives poles for winds of up to 160 km/h under NBR 6123. A stronger pole usually has thicker tubes and a larger base, which shows in the price.

Consumer rights

The Consumer Protection Code (Law 8,078 of 1990) also applies to flagpoles bought by private persons:

• information: offers provide correct, clear and precise information on features, composition, price and warranty (article 31);
• cooling-off period: for purchases outside the business premises, the consumer may withdraw within 7 days of receipt (article 49);
• defects: if a quality defect is not remedied within 30 days, the consumer may demand a replacement, a refund or a price reduction (article 18);
• time limits: the right to complain about apparent defects in durable products lapses after 90 days from delivery; for hidden defects, the period starts when the defect appears (article 26);
• contractual warranty: in addition to the legal one and given in writing, with instructions for installation and use (article 50).