Flagpole mechanics in Switzerland: halyard, pulley, tilting pole and half-mast

A flagpole works with simple mechanics: a rope, a pulley and a point where the rope is made fast. How well it works depends on the details, though: whether the rope runs outside or inside, whether the flag can turn and whether the pole can be lowered for maintenance.

The halyard

The halyard runs as a closed loop over a pulley at the top of the pole. The flag is attached to the rope with snap hooks or clips. Pulling one side of the loop moves the other side, with the flag, upwards. Once the flag is at the top, the rope is made fast at the bottom.

• External halyard: the rope hangs on the outside of the pole and is made fast on a cleat. The mechanics are easy to check and repair. In the wind, the rope can slap against the pole; a taut rope and coated snap hooks reduce the rattling.
• Internal halyard: the rope runs inside the pole and is operated behind a lockable hatch, sometimes with a crank. A counterweight keeps the rope taut. The flag is protected against being taken down without permission, and the rope does not slap against the pole. Repairs are more involved, because the rope has to be fed through the pole.

Raising and taking in

The Swiss Armed Forces’ flag regulations describe how troops raise the Swiss flag: one person clips the flag to the cable and raises it, while a second makes sure the flag does not touch the ground. Flags that have been taken in are folded neatly. This is not a rule for private individuals, but it describes a widespread care.

When raising, the flag ideally goes up evenly; a jerk can strain the snap hooks or the rope. Once the flag is at the top, the rope is made fast tightly so that it does not sag and the flag does not slip down.

Half-mast

On poles with a halyard, the flag can be set at any height. Under the flag regulations, it is always first raised to the top, both when it is set at half-mast and when it is taken in. On outrigger poles, half-mast is only possible if the outrigger can be lowered with the flag. If half-mast is technically impossible, mourning is marked in another form under the Federal Council’s instructions. More in the guide to half-mast.

Why the flag wraps around the pole

In shifting or gusty wind, the flag can wrap around the pole. This happens more often when the flag is fixed to the rope and cannot move around the pole with the wind. A rotating flag ring or rotator at the top, a taut rope and a counterweight at the bottom of the flag can reduce this. A wrapped flag chafes against the pole and wears out faster.

Tilting pole and ground sleeve

On a tilting pole, the pole is attached at the bottom to a base plate by a hinge. Once a lock is released, it can be lowered; finial, pulley and rope can then be reached on the ground. This is practical for tall poles, because ladder work against the pole is not needed. Depending on height and weight, two people and enough free space are needed to lower it.

With a ground sleeve, the pole sits in a tube set in concrete and is fixed with wedges or bolts. It can be pulled out, which, depending on its length, also needs help.

Mechanics and wind

The larger the flag, the more the wind pulls on rope, pulley, snap hooks and pole. Heimgartner Fahnen AG points out that a taller pole is more exposed to storms and that diameter and wall thickness determine stability. When there is a storm warning, many take the flag in. What helps when the mechanics are damaged is covered in the guide to flagpole repair.