Southend High School for Boys is a selective secondary grammar school situated in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. The school was originally located in central Southend and moved to its current location in the 1930s. At this point the school installed a timber flagpole at the front of the building enhancing its prestigious look and making the school clearly visible from the road to visitors. To make the flagpole distinguishable, the school opted for a large, fully-rigged flagpole which required extensive support fixings.
Timber flagpole
Timber flagpoles are often installed at historic buildings to keep with the traditional appearance. However, timber is a natural product which is more susceptible to nature’s elements and environmental conditions.Therefore, it is essential for timber flagpoles to have at least one regular annual maintenance survey and periodic refurbishment.
Site visit
The school contacted Flagpole Company with concerns about the condition of their flagpole. After receiving initial images our engineer recommended a site visit. A site visit ascertains the current state of the flagpole and asses whether a repair was feasible. When our engineer visited the school, it was immediately apparent that the flagpole was not fit for purpose and he condemned it. The school immediately cordoned off the flagpole to prevent an incident, whilst arrangements were being made for it to be replaced.
Our recommendations
Our recommendation was to replace the flagpole with an ultra-heavy-duty fibreglass type, 9 metres in height, complete with gaff arm, halyards and stainless-steel rigging wires.
The school was keen to keep the look of a timber flagpole. However, they were aware of the potential shorter life, increased maintenance costs and the likelihood of a timber flagpole being replaced more often. Therefore, they were satisfied with our recommendation and preparations were made for our engineer to install the new flagpole. In order to maintain a similar look to the timber flagpole, traditional fixings, such as a tabernacle, were used.
Being a fully-rigged flagpole, the installation was more complex than a straight-forward type. As well as the rigging, a second flag is flown on a gaff arm from the main flagpole. Coupled with the height and the size, extra checks were required to ensure that the flagpole was completely secure.
Annual maintenance inspection
Although, there is a cost to an annual maintenance inspection it minimises cost of ownership in the long term and reduces the risk of a health and safety incident. Regular maintenance checks and servicing will help to prolong the life of your flagpole and maintain its functionality. If you have a flagpole, whether it is timber or fibreglass, we recommend an annual maintenance inspection. To organise yours please email, call 01245 230700 or complete our online form.
