Safety requirements for flagpoles in Sweden

A flagpole is a tall structure that resists the wind year after year. If it breaks, it can injure people and damage houses and cars, and work on the halyard and the top carries risks. There is no specific Swedish law for flagpoles, but several general rules apply. Here is an overview.

What the law says

Riksarkivet notes that there are no official rules for flagpoles as such. A flagpole is, however, a construction works under the Planning and Building Act, and Boverket describes it as a kind of mast. This means, among other things, that:

• Chapter 8, section 4 of the Planning and Building Act: a construction works is to have the technical properties that are essential with regard to, among other things, load-bearing capacity, stability and durability and safety in use.
• Chapter 8, section 14 of the Planning and Building Act: a construction works is to be kept in good condition and maintained so that its design and technical properties are essentially preserved.

The building committee can take action against a construction works that does not meet the requirements.

Wind load

The wind is the greatest strain. It is above all the flag that catches the wind, and the force rises sharply with wind speed and the flag’s area.

• Dimensioning: manufacturers dimension poles and foundations according to European calculation rules for wind load, which in Sweden are applied with the national choices Boverket has made. Wind pressure varies across the country, and the coast, the mountains and open fields are more exposed than sheltered gardens.
• The manufacturer’s limits: many poles have a stated maximum flag size and a wind zone or terrain type they are designed for.
• Storm flag: Riksarkivet mentions that a smaller storm flag can be raised in very strong wind, so that the pole does not risk breaking.
• Warnings: it is worth bearing in mind that SMHI (the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) issues warnings for very strong wind, and that many take down the flag or lower the pole ahead of a storm.

Fall zone and placement

It is worth bearing in mind that a pole that breaks can reach a distance equal to its height. Houses, roads, footpaths, parking spaces and power lines within that distance can be affected. The same applies when the pole is raised or lowered. More about placement and planning permission in the guide to flagpole installation.

Electricity and utility lines

• Overhead lines: aluminium and steel poles conduct electricity, and even a wet or dirty glass-fibre pole can conduct electricity. The grid owner can answer questions about work near a line.
• Underground lines: through Ledningskollen, a free cable location request can be made before digging.
• Lighting: according to the Swedish National Electrical Safety Board, fixed outdoor electrical installations are, with few exceptions, carried out by a registered electrical installation company. More in the guide to flag lighting.

Work at height

A major risk arises when something at the top needs attention, for example a halyard that has snapped or a pulley that has jammed.

• A flagpole is not designed to be climbed or to have a ladder leaned against it.
• A hinged pole allows the work to be done on the ground.
• For tall, fixed poles, a lift is often used, or help from someone with the right equipment. For employers, the work environment rules on work at height apply.

Common checkpoints

It is worth bearing in mind that a pole that leans, has cracks at the base or moves in the foundation may be damaged. More in the guides to flagpole maintenance and flagpole repair.

Responsibility and insurance

Responsibility for a flagpole normally lies with the owner. It is worth bearing in mind that damage caused by poor maintenance or incorrect installation can lead to liability for damages, and that home and business insurance policies have different terms.