Flagpole mechanics in Norway: halyard, pulley and tilting pole

A flagpole is a simple machine. A wheel at the top, a line and a fastening at the bottom are all it takes to raise a flag ten metres up. Yet it is the mechanics that most often fail: the halyard wears, the pulley jams or the flag wraps around the pole. The guide explains how the usual systems work.

External halyard

The most common solution in Norway is a line running from the ground, over the pulley at the top and down again. The line forms a loop with two parts. The flag is attached to one part with hooks or toggles, and when the other part is pulled down, the flag goes up. At the bottom, the line is secured on a cleat with a few turns.

Norske Boligbyggelag refers to a practical tip for half-mast: counting the number of pulls on the halyard when the flag is raised to the top, and dividing that number by three. The upper edge of the flag then hangs about one third of the pole’s height below the top, as Store norske leksikon describes half-mast.

Internal halyard

With an internal halyard, the line runs inside the pole. It is operated through a hatch at the bottom of the pole, and a counterweight keeps the line taut. The flag is attached to a part of the line that comes out at the top. The system is better protected against weather, theft and vandalism, and the line does not slap against the pole. On the other hand, it is harder to reach when something needs replacing.

Telescopic

Telescopic poles usually have no halyard. The flag or pennant sits on rings that are pushed up as the tubes are extended. The flag cannot be lowered to half-mast, and it is taken down by retracting the pole.

Tilting joint

A tilting pole stands in a foundation with a hinge. When a lock is released, the pole can be laid down. This makes it possible to change the halyard, pulley and finial from the ground and to lay the pole down before a storm. The pole’s weight and length mean it is common to have two people when laying it down and raising it. The maker’s instructions describe how this is done for each pole.

Noise from the halyard

A slack line slapping against the pole makes a rattling noise that can carry a long way at night. Section 2 of the Neighbour Act (grannelova) prohibits having or doing anything that unreasonably or unnecessarily causes damage or nuisance to the neighbouring property. Whether noise from a halyard is unreasonable depends on the circumstances, but many reduce it by tightening the line, holding it slightly away from the pole or choosing an internal halyard. The pennant, which often stays up at night, is a common source of such noise.

When the mechanics fail

• The halyard wears: sun and friction against the pulley make the line stiff and thin.
• The pulley jams: dirt, ice or wear stop the wheel from turning.
• The halyard jumps off: the line can come off the pulley and get stuck.
• The flag wraps: without a swivel or rotating arm, the pennant can wrap around the pole.

How such faults are fixed is covered in the guide to flagpole repair. All the parts are described in the guide to flagpole accessories, and working at height and wind in the guide to flagpole safety.