The short answer is no, flags should not be flown in all weather conditions. Flagpoles and flags are used in both commercial and domestic settings, so when purchasing a flagpole, you should consider how exposed the flagpole will be to inclement weather conditions, specifically high winds. The majority of flagpoles are designed, by their length, to fly flags of a particular size in moderate weather conditions. See our guide to flag sizes here. The industry standard advice is that all flags should be lowered when the wind speed is likely to exceed 30 mph. It is recommended that no attempt should be made to hoist or fly a flag when conditions exceed 30 mph, wind force 6. Exposure to wind speeds 32-38mph, force 7 and above may cause irreversible damage to your flag and put excessive force on your flagpole. A flagpole subjected to extreme strain should be considered a potential health and safety hazard. We recommend that you incorporate this matter into your building management risk assessment.
Beaufort Scale
How do you know when the wind reaches 30mph, wind force 6? A helpful indicator of wind-speed is the Beaufort Wind Force Scale. Often referred to as the Beaufort Scale, it was developed in 1805 by Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, of the U.K. Royal Navy. He developed it to help sailors estimate the wind strengths via visual observations. It is still used today as an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land. It measures in forces from 0-12. With 0 meaning it is calm and the relative wind speed is less than 1 knot, /Km/h/mph and 12 indicating a hurricane with more than 69 knots, 119 km/h and 74 mph. See above image which is an extract of the Beaufort Scale table above. You can find the full Beaufort Scale in our help and advice section on our website here.
Our weather warnings
Storms and high winds can occur at any time however they tend to be more frequent in winter months. At Flagpole Company we monitor Met Office weather throughout the year for warnings that indicate high winds. This provides essential information for organising flagpole maintenance work and installations, especially when working at height. In addition, on Twitter, we mostly share strong wind warnings to advise on the removal of flags. Follow us on Twitter and read our safety advice blog here.
Maintenance inspections
To avoid health and safety issues with your flagpole we recommend an annual maintenance inspection by our specialist flagpole engineer. Regular maintenance checks reduce the risk of a health and safety incidents and help to prolong the life of your flagpole and maintain its functionality. Although there is a cost to an annual maintenance inspection it is a mandatory requirement that will help reduce the risk of a potentially serious health and safety incident. To book an inspection contact our team: call 01245 230700, email or complete our online form
