Flagpole maintenance in Switzerland: care, inspection and flag care

An aluminium flagpole needs little care, but not none. Rope, snap hooks and pulley work every time the flag is raised and with every gust of wind, and the flag itself is the part that wears out fastest. Regular inspection extends the lifespan and also has a legal side in Switzerland: under Article 58 of the Code of Obligations, the owner of a structure is liable for damage caused by inadequate maintenance.

What is checked at an inspection

There is no legal interval. An inspection once a year and after severe storms is common; the manufacturer’s instructions may set their own intervals. For poles in public places or at businesses, written inspection records are common.

Rope, pulley and snap hooks

The halyard is the wearing part par excellence. UV light, moisture and friction on the pulley make it brittle over time. A chafed rope can snap while the flag is being raised, and the flag then stays stuck at the top. Many therefore replace the rope before it snaps. A stiff pulley wears the rope faster; depending on the manufacturer, it is cleaned or replaced. Snap hooks with weak springs come loose in the wind.

Pole and surface

Aluminium poles can be cleaned with water and a mild detergent; abrasive cleaners can damage anodised or coated surfaces. On galvanised steel poles, scratches and rust spots are touched up before corrosion spreads. Wooden poles need repainting at regular intervals, especially at ground level. A pole guard at the foot prevents damage from lawnmowers and strimmers.

Work at the top

Finial and pulley sit at the top of the pole. A flagpole offers a ladder hardly any support. Suva sets out the principle that portable ladders should only be used if there is no more suitable alternative. A tilting pole can be lowered, a pole in a ground sleeve pulled out; for tall poles, specialist firms offer maintenance with an aerial work platform. More in the guide to flagpole safety.

Caring for the flag

The flag wears out faster than any other part, especially if it flies permanently. The Swiss Armed Forces’ flag regulations and the army’s leaflet on handling non-military flags set out some principles:

• Fixing: flags are hung only with the fixings provided, snap hooks for the pole or eyelets for indoors. Nails, staples or string through the flag cloth inevitably cause damage. The army’s Swiss flags have no eyelets and are fixed with snap hooks indoors too.
• Drying: wet flags are dried before being folded and packed, because otherwise they tend to go mouldy.
• Folding: flags that have been taken in are folded neatly.
• Replacement: torn or dirty flags are replaced with new ones.

According to their manufacturers, many polyester flags can be washed at a low temperature. Frayed edges on the fly side can be resewn early, before the damage grows. A second flag to alternate with extends the life of both.

Seasonal care

At higher altitudes and with heavy snow, some take the flag in over the winter or take the pole out of its ground sleeve. Water that freezes in the sleeve can damage pole and sleeve; a drain or a cover prevents this. What helps with damage is covered in the guide to flagpole repair, and how long pole and flag last in the guide to flagpole lifespan.