Flagpole accessories in Poland
Published Written by Flagpole Guides
This page is an English translation of the Polish original. Where the two versions differ, the Polish text is the original.
A flagpole is more than a tube set in the ground. How easily the flag is raised, whether the flag flies freely and whether the flagpole is secured against others depend on its accessories. This guide describes the most common fittings for flagpoles, brackets and staffs. How the mechanism works is described in the guide to flagpole mechanics.
Accessories at a glance
| Part | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Finial | The top of the pole, often ball-shaped; keeps water out of the pole |
| Pulley | The wheel in the finial through which the halyard runs |
| Halyard | Used to raise and lower the flag |
| Cleat | Fitting at the base to which the halyard is secured |
| Snap hooks | Connect the flag to the halyard |
| Counterweight | Tensions the internal halyard or the lower corner of the flag |
| Crossarm | Horizontal arm at the top of the pole for a vertical flag |
| Rotating ring | Lets the flag turn around the pole without wrapping |
| Flag bracket | Fixes a staff to a wall, window or railing |
| Stand | Base for a staff indoors |
Finial and pulley
The finial closes the top end of the pole. The most popular is a ball in silver, gold or white. The finial contains the pulley, a wheel over which the halyard runs. The pulley turns every time the flag is raised, so it wears over time. Rotating finials let the flag turn freely with the wind.
Halyard and cleat
The halyard is usually polyester, resistant to UV radiation and stretching. In flagpoles with an external halyard, it runs along the pole and is tied to a cleat at the base. In flagpoles with an internal halyard, it is hidden inside the pole and access is closed by a lockable door, which makes it harder for others to untie the flag. An external halyard slaps against the pole in the wind and can be noisy. The differences are described in the guide to flagpole mechanics.
Snap hooks and counterweight
The flag is usually attached to the halyard with snap hooks sewn to the rope in the flag's hoist. With internal halyards, a counterweight is used to tension the halyard and the lower corner of the flag. Stainless steel or plastic snap hooks do not scratch the pole.
Crossarm and rotating ring
Vertical flags use a crossarm, a horizontal arm at the top of the pole from which the flag hangs spread out. The crossarm can rotate so that the flag does not wrap around the pole in changing wind. For horizontal flags, a rotating ring does a similar job. Under article 4(2) of the Act on the emblem, colours and anthem, when hung vertically white is placed on the left as seen from the front.
Brackets and staffs
On façades, by windows and on balconies, flags hang from staffs set in flag brackets. Brackets are fixed to the wall with anchor plugs or to the railing with clamps. There are single and double brackets, for example for the Polish flag and the flag of the European Union. Staffs are wooden, aluminium or plastic, usually with a spearhead or ball at the end.
Stands
In the chambers of public offices, schools and offices, flags stand in stands, heavy bases with sockets for staffs. Stands are single or multiple. They allow flags to be placed in the order described in the guide to flag protocol.
The kir
The kir is a black ribbon used as a sign of mourning. According to the guidance of the National Security Bureau, flags on staffs are tied at the top with a kir about as long as the flag is high. Flags on flagpoles are lowered to half-mast and not tied with a kir. More is in the guide to half-mast.
Lighting
Floodlights aimed at the flag keep it visible after dark. The subject is covered in the guide to flag lighting.
Frequently asked questions
What accessories does a typical flagpole have?
A typical free-standing flagpole has a finial with a pulley, a halyard for raising the flag, a cleat or lockable halyard box at the base and snap hooks for attaching the flag. Flagpoles for vertical flags also have a crossarm.
What is a cleat for?
A cleat is a fitting at the base of the flagpole to which the halyard is secured after the flag has been raised. In flagpoles with an internal halyard, the halyard is hidden in the pole behind a lockable door, which makes it harder for others to untie it.
What is the kir and when is it used?
The kir is a black ribbon. According to the guidance of the National Security Bureau, flags on staffs are tied at the top with a kir about as long as the flag is high as a sign of mourning. Flags on flagpoles are not tied with a kir but lowered to half-mast.
Sources
This guide is based on the following sources, most of them in Polish:
- Maszty flagowe (opisy masztów i wyposażenia) – iFlagi
- Uchwyty flagowe (oferta) – iFlagi
- Duma i szacunek. Zasady oraz dobre praktyki godnego postępowania wobec polskich symboli państwowych – Biuro Bezpieczeństwa Narodowego
- Ustawa z dnia 31 stycznia 1980 r. o godle, barwach i hymnie Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej oraz o pieczęciach państwowych (art. 4) – Dziennik Ustaw
Related guides
- Flagpole mechanicsHow a flagpole works: external and internal halyards, pulley, cleat, tilting flagpole, rotating crossarm, raising and lowering the flag and common faults.
- Types of flagpolesTypes of flagpoles: free-standing, a staff in a façade or balcony bracket, a flagpole with a crossarm, tilting, telescopic, on a roof and an indoor stand.
- Flag lightingLighting a flag on a flagpole: whether the flag may fly at night, ground floodlights, lights at the top of the pole, solar power, neighbours and wiring.
- Flagpole maintenanceMaintaining a flagpole and flag: checking the halyard, pulley and fixings, cleaning, inspections under the Building Law, washing and storing the flag.
- Buying a flagpoleWhat affects the price of a flagpole in Poland: height, material, internal halyard, tilting pole, foundation, installation, transport, VAT and consumer rights.