Flagpoles
Remade from scratch to the authoring rules: defaults asserted only where four of five projects would choose them, and scope boundaries matched to the neighboring standards
Showing changes from Rev 2
to Rev 3
in Flagpoles.
---
title: Flagpoles
category: Architectural / Specialties
−toc_depth: 3
description: >
− When to use: Freestanding exterior flagpoles for commercial, institutional,
− governmental, and public-assembly projects — ground-set, ground-sleeve,
− wall-mounted, and nautical/plaza-set assemblies in aluminum, fiberglass, or
− steel at building entries, civic plazas, campuses, parks, and sports
− facilities. Covers structural design under wind loading, halyard systems,
− finishes, illumination provisions, hardware, and concrete foundation design.
− Not intended for: permanent identification or wayfinding signs (use
− sync/exterior-signage); site furnishings such as bollards, benches, and
− planters (use sync/site-furnishings-and-bollards); lightning protection
− down-conductor and grounding-electrode systems beyond the pole itself (use
− sync/lightning-protection); exterior area-lighting poles and their
− foundations (use sync/exterior-lighting); interior or decorative display
− poles and banner hangers; and roof-mounted flagpoles on occupied roof
− structures, which require separate structural-engineer coordination.
+ When to use: Exterior flagpoles for commercial, institutional, governmental, civic, campus, park, and sports-facility projects: freestanding ground-set, shoe-base, and hinged-base poles; wall-mounted vertical and outrigger poles; and roof- or canopy-mounted poles, in aluminum, fiberglass, steel, or stainless steel, as single poles or coordinated groups. Covers structural design under wind and flag load to ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001, shaft material and profile, external and internal halyard systems and their security, trucks and finials, finishes and corrosion exposure, the foundation and foundation tube, wall and roof mounting, grounding and lightning-protection provisions at the pole, raceway provisions for flag illumination, installation, and warranty.
+ Not intended for: flags, banners, pennants, banner arms, and display cases; interior and parade poles; exterior identification and wayfinding signs, including pylon and pole signs (see [[sync/exterior-signage]]); site and area lighting poles and the luminaires that illuminate the flag (see [[sync/exterior-lighting]]); benches, bollards, and other site furnishings at the same plaza (see [[sync/site-furnishings-and-bollards]]); the building lightning protection system beyond the pole's own termination and bonding (see [[sync/lightning-protection]]); the electrical grounding electrode system and equipment grounding of circuits serving the pole (see [[sync/grounding-and-bonding]]); concrete materials, mixture, placement, and acceptance for the foundation (see [[sync/cast-in-place-concrete]]); and the overhead cover itself, its framing, and its deck that a pole attaches to (see [[sync/metal-canopies-and-awnings]] and the structural drawings).
---
# Scope {toc}
−## This Section covers the design, fabrication, finish, hardware, foundation, and installation of freestanding exterior flagpoles. {note}
+## This standard covers the design, fabrication, finishing, hardware, foundation, mounting, and installation of exterior flagpoles, from the foundation tube or mounting base to the finial. {note}
−## The work includes the pole shaft, base or sleeve, halyard system, ornamental truck and finial, foundation, and provisions for illumination and lightning protection coordination. It applies to single-pole and multi-pole installations at building entries, civic plazas, campuses, parks, and sports facilities. {note}
+## A flagpole is a wind-loaded cantilever first and an architectural element second. Its shaft carries the drag of the flag and of its own tapered length as a bending moment that peaks at grade, and that moment is what sizes the shaft wall, the foundation, and every mounting bracket. The two inputs that set the moment, exposed height and flag size, are decided by the project; the shaft diameters, wall thickness, and foundation that follow from them are engineering outputs, not catalog preferences. {note}
−## Flagpoles shall be furnished and installed complete, including shaft, foundation, halyard hardware, and ornamental fittings.
+## The configurations covered are the following. {note}
−## A flagpole is a structure subject to wind-load provisions of the building code, not merely a furnishing. Its structural adequacy must be certified for the project's design wind speed before fabrication, and the foundation must be designed for the same loads and the actual soil conditions. {note}
+- Freestanding poles set in a foundation tube, embedded directly in concrete, or bolted to anchor rods through a shoe base, including hinged bases that let the pole be lowered.
+- Wall-mounted poles, either vertical on a pair of brackets or projecting from the wall on an angled outrigger bracket.
+- Roof- and canopy-mounted poles carried on a structural base through the roof or canopy deck.
+- Groups of poles at a plaza or entrance detailed as one coordinated set.
−## The following installation types are covered: ground-set, ground-sleeve, wall-mounted, and plaza/surface-mounted assemblies. {note}
+## The work of the following standards is coordinated with, but not specified by, this standard. {note}
−## Ground-set poles are embedded directly in a concrete foundation. Ground-sleeve poles drop into a galvanized steel sleeve cast in concrete and are removable. Wall-mounted poles cantilever from a building face on a single-arm bracket. Plaza or surface-mounted poles bolt to an anchor-bolt pattern on a concrete base, typically where the foundation top is exposed in finished paving. {note}
+- Concrete materials, mixture, placement, and strength acceptance for the foundation: [[sync/cast-in-place-concrete]]; reinforcing steel for the foundation: [[sync/concrete-reinforcement]].
+- Cast-in anchor rods for shoe-base poles: [[sync/structural-steel-anchor-bolts]].
+- The building lightning protection system the pole is bonded into: [[sync/lightning-protection]]; equipment grounding of any circuit serving a winch or luminaire at the pole: [[sync/grounding-and-bonding]].
+- Luminaires that illuminate the flag and the poles that carry area lighting: [[sync/exterior-lighting]]; the raceways and conductors that feed them: [[sync/raceways-and-conduit]] and [[sync/conductors-and-cables]].
+- The canopy structure a canopy-mounted pole attaches to: [[sync/metal-canopies-and-awnings]].
+- Signs, including pole and pylon signs: [[sync/exterior-signage]]; bollards and site furnishings: [[sync/site-furnishings-and-bollards]].
−## Roof-mounted flagpoles on occupied roof structures are excluded and require a separate roof-mounted section with structural-engineer coordination of the roof framing. {note}
+## Flags, banners, banner arms, pennants, and display cases are furnished under other scopes and are not part of this standard. {note}
−## Flags, flag carriers, and display cases are not part of this Section. {note}
−
−## This Section covers the structural pole and its hardware only. Flags themselves and any indoor display hardware belong to other Sections; specifying them here is a common classification error. {note}
−
−## Related work is specified elsewhere and is referenced where coordination is required. {note}
−
−## Exterior identification signage is covered by [[sync/exterior-signage]]; bollards and other site furnishings at the same plaza by [[sync/site-furnishings-and-bollards]]; the lightning protection system beyond the pole itself by [[sync/lightning-protection]]; adjacent area-lighting poles by [[sync/exterior-lighting]]; the concrete foundation material by [[sync/cast-in-place-concrete]]; and grounding and bonding of the metal pole by [[sync/grounding-and-bonding]]. {note}
−
# Referenced Standards {toc}
−## Materials, design, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
+## Materials, design, fabrication, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
−## Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
+## Where the contract documents, the building code, or a referenced standard conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
| Standard | Title |
|----------|-------|
−| ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001-07 | Guide Specifications for Design of Metal Flagpoles |
−| ASCE 7 | Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures |
+| ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 | Guide Specifications for Design of Metal Flagpoles |
+| ASCE/SEI 7 | Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures |
+| Aluminum Association ADM | Aluminum Design Manual |
+| AA DAF-45 | Designation System for Aluminum Finishes |
+| AAMA 611 | Voluntary Specification for Anodized Architectural Aluminum |
+| AAMA 2604 | Voluntary Specification, Performance Requirements and Test Procedures for High Performance Organic Coatings on Aluminum Extrusions and Panels |
+| AAMA 2605 | Voluntary Specification, Performance Requirements and Test Procedures for Superior Performing Organic Coatings on Aluminum Extrusions and Panels |
+| ASTM A53/A53M | Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc-Coated, Welded and Seamless |
+| ASTM A123/A123M | Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings on Iron and Steel Products |
+| ASTM A153/A153M | Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware |
+| ASTM A240/A240M | Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip |
+| ASTM A500/A500M | Cold-Formed Welded and Seamless Carbon Steel Structural Tubing in Rounds and Shapes |
| ASTM B221 | Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes |
−| ASTM A500 | Cold-Formed Welded and Seamless Carbon Steel Structural Tubing in Rounds and Shapes |
−| ASTM A123 | Zinc (Hot-Dip Galvanized) Coatings on Iron and Steel Products |
+| ASTM B241/B241M | Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Seamless Pipe and Seamless Extruded Tube |
+| ASTM F593 | Stainless Steel Bolts, Hex Cap Screws, and Studs |
+| IEEE C2 | National Electrical Safety Code |
+| NFPA 70 | National Electrical Code |
| NFPA 780 | Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems |
−| NFPA 70 (NEC) | National Electrical Code (Article 250) |
−| IBC | International Building Code (Chapter 16) |
−| ADM | Aluminum Design Manual (Aluminum Association) |
−| AA-M12 | Aluminum Association Designation System for Anodic Finishes |
−## NAAMM FP 1001-07 is the latest published edition and was written to ASCE 7-05. On projects under IBC 2021 or IBC 2024, the newer ASCE 7 wind-speed maps apply, but the FP 1001 calculation methodology remains valid. The specifier must reconcile the two editions and state the governing wind speed explicitly so the manufacturer can certify the pole; the wind-speed map of the locally adopted ASCE 7 edition governs the design wind speed input to the FP 1001 methodology. {note}
+## ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 is the design guide for metal flagpoles. It sets the wind-load method, the treatment of the flag as a drag load, the allowable stresses, and the deflection criteria the shaft is checked against, and it is the document the manufacturer's sealed calculation is written to. Its wind-speed basis is the ASCE/SEI 7 edition the adopted building code references, so the design wind speed is taken from the project's code basis rather than from the guide. {note}
# Submittals {toc}
−## The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before fabrication:
−- Product data for the pole, including material, alloy or grade, butt and top diameters, wall thickness, height, and weight.
−- Shop drawings showing the shaft profile, base detail, foundation, halyard system, ornamental truck and finial, and all hardware.
−- Structural design calculations for the pole and foundation, sealed by a professional engineer licensed in the project jurisdiction, demonstrating compliance with NAAMM FP 1001-07 for the specified design wind speed, exposure category, and flag size.
−- Finish samples showing the specified anodize class and color or the specified paint color and gloss.
−- Foundation embedment schedule or site-specific foundation design correlated to the geotechnical report.
+## Action Submittals {toc}
+### The Contractor shall submit the following for review before fabrication of any pole:
+
+- Product data for each pole type, stating the shaft material, alloy and temper or resin and reinforcement, profile, exposed height, butt and top diameters, wall thickness, section lengths and splice method, finish, and shipping weight
+- Shop drawings showing the shaft profile and dimensions, base or mounting detail, foundation tube or anchor rod layout, halyard system, access door and lock, truck, finial, and every fitting and fastener
+- Structural calculations for the shaft and its base or mounting, sealed by a professional engineer licensed in the project jurisdiction, demonstrating compliance with ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 for the exposed height, flag load, design wind speed, and exposure category stated in the contract documents
+- Foundation design, sealed by a professional engineer licensed in the project jurisdiction, where the datasheet assigns the foundation design to the flagpole manufacturer
+- Finish samples, 6 in long, on the shaft alloy or substrate, showing the finish, color, and gloss, and for anodized color finishes showing the acceptable light and dark limits of the color range
+- Wiring diagram and control-station details for each electric winch
+
```datasheet
−label: Action submittals required
+label: Action Submittals Required
type: checkbox
options:
− - Product data (material, dimensions, weight)
− - Shop drawings (shaft, base, halyard, truck, hardware)
− - Sealed structural calculations (pole and foundation)
− - Finish samples (anodize class/color or paint)
− - Foundation embedment schedule / site-specific design
+ - "Product data for each pole type"
+ - "Shop drawings"
+ - "Sealed structural calculations for the shaft and base"
+ - "Sealed foundation design"
+ - "Finish samples"
+ - "Electric winch wiring diagram and control-station details"
default:
− - Product data (material, dimensions, weight)
− - Shop drawings (shaft, base, halyard, truck, hardware)
− - Sealed structural calculations (pole and foundation)
− - Finish samples (anodize class/color or paint)
+ - "Product data for each pole type"
+ - "Shop drawings"
+ - "Sealed structural calculations for the shaft and base"
+ - "Finish samples"
```
−## The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals:
−- Manufacturer's certification that the pole complies with NAAMM FP 1001-07 for the specified design conditions.
−- Mill certificates for aluminum alloy or steel grade.
−- Coordination drawing showing electrical conduit stub-up and lightning protection bonding at the foundation.
+### Fabrication of a pole shall not begin until the shop drawings and structural calculations for that pole have been reviewed and returned without exception.
+### A sealed calculation is the only document in the submittal set that proves the shaft was sized for this project's height, flag, and wind rather than selected from a catalog by height alone. A catalog table assumes a flag size and a wind speed; where either assumption is lower than the project's, the pole is undersized and nothing on the shop drawing shows it. {note}
+
+## Informational Submittals {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall submit the following before the first pole is delivered:
+
+- Manufacturer's certification that each pole complies with ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 for the design conditions stated in the contract documents
+- Mill certificates for the shaft alloy and temper or steel grade, and the manufacturer's material certification for fiberglass shafts
+- Certificate of the anodizer or coating applicator stating the coating designation and measured coating thickness
+- Record of the manufacturer's years producing flagpoles and of the installer's qualifying installations
+
```datasheet
−label: Informational submittals required
+label: Informational Submittals Required
type: checkbox
options:
− - NAAMM FP 1001-07 compliance certification
− - Mill certificates (alloy/grade)
− - Conduit and lightning-protection coordination drawing
+ - "ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 compliance certification"
+ - "Mill and material certificates"
+ - "Finish applicator certificate with coating thickness"
+ - "Manufacturer and installer qualification record"
default:
− - NAAMM FP 1001-07 compliance certification
− - Conduit and lightning-protection coordination drawing
+ - "ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 compliance certification"
+ - "Mill and material certificates"
```
−## The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals:
−- Operation and maintenance data for the halyard system, including motorized-winch instructions where provided.
−- Maintenance instructions for the specified finish, including washing frequency for anodized finishes in coastal exposures.
−- Warranty documents.
+## Closeout Submittals {toc}
+### The Contractor shall submit the following before the flagpole work is accepted:
+
+- Operation and maintenance data for the halyard system, including winch operation, halyard replacement procedure, lubrication, and the largest flag and number of flags each pole is designed for
+- Finish maintenance instructions, including the washing method and interval for the specified finish and corrosion exposure
+- Keys for every access door and cleat cover lock, tagged by pole location, and the winch handle for every manual winch
+- Warranty documents for the shaft, finish, and winch
+
```datasheet
−label: Closeout submittals required
+label: Closeout Submittals Required
type: checkbox
options:
− - Halyard O&M data (and winch instructions if motorized)
− - Finish maintenance instructions
− - Warranty documents
+ - "Halyard system operation and maintenance data"
+ - "Finish maintenance instructions"
+ - "Keys and winch handles"
+ - "Warranty documents"
default:
− - Halyard O&M data (and winch instructions if motorized)
− - Finish maintenance instructions
− - Warranty documents
+ - "Halyard system operation and maintenance data"
+ - "Finish maintenance instructions"
+ - "Keys and winch handles"
+ - "Warranty documents"
```
# Quality Assurance {toc}
−## Structural design of the pole shall be performed in accordance with NAAMM FP 1001-07.
+## Poles shall be furnished by a manufacturer that has produced flagpoles designed to ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 for not less than five years.
−## FP 1001 defines the wind-load methodology, flag loading, bending-moment and stress analysis, and minimum wall thickness for metal flagpoles. It is the primary governing standard, and a pole certified to it is the baseline expectation on a professional project. {note}
+## All poles on the project, with their foundation tubes, bases, brackets, halyard hardware, trucks, and finials, shall be furnished by a single manufacturer.
−## The pole and foundation design shall be sealed by a professional engineer licensed in the jurisdiction of the project.
+## Shaft and mounting calculations and, where assigned to the manufacturer, the foundation design shall be sealed by a professional engineer licensed in the jurisdiction of the project.
−## The manufacturer shall be regularly engaged in producing flagpoles to NAAMM FP 1001-07 and shall certify compliance for the specified design wind speed, exposure category, and flag size.
+## Poles shall be installed by the manufacturer's authorized installer or by an installer that has set not fewer than five flagpoles of comparable height within the preceding three years.
−## A residential or light-duty pole shall not be substituted for a commercial-grade pole on a commercial, institutional, or governmental project.
+## Where the parties disagree whether a delivered pole, finish, or fitting conforms to the reviewed submittal, the Engineer of Record shall make the initial determination.
−## Residential poles use a 0.125 in (1/8 in) wall and light cleat hardware that cannot withstand daily institutional flag cycles or the wind loads typical of an exposed commercial site. Commercial poles use a minimum 0.188 in (3/16 in) butt-section wall and heavier hardware. Substituting a lighter pole is a frequent and serious error. {note}
+## A single manufacturer for every pole and fitting keeps the trucks, finials, and finishes of a group matched, and leaves one party responsible when a sleeve, a base, and a shaft do not fit each other. Split sourcing moves that fit problem to the site, where the foundation is already cast. {note}
−# Environmental and Service Conditions {toc}
+# Structural Design {toc}
−## The design wind speed and exposure category shall be stated on the Drawings and used as the basis for the pole and foundation design.
+## Each pole, with its base, brackets, and anchorage, shall be designed in accordance with ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 for the design wind speed and exposure category stated on [[drawing: the structural general notes]].
+## Where the structural drawings do not state a design wind speed or exposure category, the pole shall be designed for the values the [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] assigns to the site through the ASCE/SEI 7 edition it references.
+
+## The design shall include the drag of the flag or flags indicated in the datasheet flown together at the top of the pole.
+
+## The flag drag and the shaft drag act at the top of a cantilever, so the moment at grade grows faster than height does: raising a pole from 30 ft to 40 ft while keeping the same flag raises the base moment by well over a third. Flag size has the same leverage. A pole bought for a 5 ft by 8 ft flag and later flown with an 8 ft by 12 ft flag carries more than twice the flag load its shaft and foundation were checked for, which is why both inputs are fixed in the contract documents rather than left to the Owner's later choice of flag. {note}
+
+## Shaft deflection under the design wind shall not exceed the limit ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 sets for the pole's height class.
+
+## Dissimilar metals in contact at the base, brackets, anchorage, and foundation tube shall be isolated from each other by nonconductive separators or coatings.
+
+# Mounting Configuration {toc}
+
+## The mounting configuration of each pole shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Design wind speed (3-second gust at 33 ft)
−type: range
−unit: mph
−min: 85
−max: 180
−step: 5
−default: 115
+label: Mounting Configuration
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Freestanding, ground-mounted"
+ - "Wall-mounted, vertical on brackets"
+ - "Wall-mounted, projecting on an angled outrigger bracket"
+ - "Roof-mounted on a structural base"
+ - "Canopy-mounted on a structural base"
+default: "Freestanding, ground-mounted"
```
+## The base of a freestanding pole shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: ASCE 7 exposure category
+label: Freestanding Pole Base
type: radio
options:
− - "Exposure B (urban/suburban, wooded)"
− - "Exposure C (open terrain, scattered obstructions)"
− - "Exposure D (flat unobstructed, coastal/water)"
−default: "Exposure C (open terrain, scattered obstructions)"
+ - "Ground-set in a foundation tube"
+ - "Ground-set, embedded directly in the foundation concrete"
+ - "Shoe base on cast-in anchor rods"
+ - "Hinged base on cast-in anchor rods"
+default: "Ground-set in a foundation tube"
```
−## A pole height specified without a design wind speed and exposure category cannot be structurally certified by the manufacturer and generates an RFI on every project. Wind speed is the 3-second gust at 33 ft per the locally adopted ASCE 7 edition; typical US values range from roughly 85 mph to 150 mph depending on geography and exposure. {note}
+## A freestanding pole puts its whole base moment into a concrete foundation and is the configuration the ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 method and the manufacturers' catalogs are built around. A wall-mounted pole puts the same moment into the building wall through brackets, so the wall backing, not the pole, usually governs; a vertical wall mount keeps the moment arm short, while an outrigger bracket adds the projecting length to it and reads as a civic or storefront gesture at the cost of a heavier anchorage. A roof- or canopy-mounted pole adds its base reaction to a deck designed for roof loads and places a penetration through a roof membrane, so it carries a structural check and a flashing detail the other configurations do not. {note}
−## Poles in coastal or chloride-rich environments shall be specified for that exposure.
+## A foundation tube lets the pole be set after the concrete has cured, plumbed with wedges, and removed later by lifting it out, and it keeps the shaft out of direct contact with the concrete. Direct embedment is the plainest detail and is common for fiberglass shafts, which are not attacked by concrete, but it fixes the pole's plumb at the pour and makes removal a demolition. A shoe base carries the pole on anchor rods above a finished surface, suits a foundation whose top is exposed in paving or a structural slab that cannot take an embedded length, and is the base a hinged pole builds on; its leveling nuts, cover, and rod corrosion protection are the price of that access. A hinged base lets one or two people lower the pole to grade for maintenance or to clear a storm or a seasonal use, at the cost of a counterbalance and a larger base casting. {note}
−## Chloride attack degrades a Class I anodize over time, and steel components corrode rapidly in salt air. In severe coastal exposures the standard Class I anodize is insufficient on its own. {note}
+# Shaft Material and Profile {toc}
−## In severe coastal exposures, fiberglass shafts or a high-class anodize with a defined washing regimen should be specified, and the maintenance specification should state the washing frequency.
+## The shaft material shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
```datasheet
−label: Site corrosion exposure
+label: Shaft Material
type: radio
options:
− - "Standard inland"
− - "Industrial / de-icing salt exposure"
− - "Coastal / marine chloride exposure"
−default: "Standard inland"
+ - "Aluminum"
+ - "Fiberglass-reinforced polymer"
+ - "Carbon steel, hot-dip galvanized"
+ - "Stainless steel"
+default: "Aluminum"
```
−## The flagpole location shall maintain the clearance from overhead power lines required by the building code and the serving utility.
+## Aluminum shafts shall be seamless extruded tube of alloy 6063-T6 conforming to ASTM B241/B241M or, for untapered sections, to ASTM B221, tapered by spinning or swaging without a longitudinal weld.
−## Utility and code clearance from overhead conductors can govern flagpole placement more stringently than the architectural layout assumes. The location must be verified against overhead utilities before the foundation is set; coordinate placement on the site plan [[drawing: flagpole location and overhead-utility clearance]]. {note}
+## Fiberglass-reinforced polymer shafts shall be filament-wound continuous glass fiber in a polyester or vinyl ester resin with an ultraviolet-inhibited resin-rich surface, free of exposed fibers and voids.
−# Pole Material and Shaft {toc}
+## Carbon steel shafts shall be fabricated from pipe conforming to ASTM A53/A53M Grade B or tubing conforming to ASTM A500/A500M, with a continuous full-penetration longitudinal weld ground smooth, and shall be hot-dip galvanized inside and out to ASTM A123/A123M after fabrication.
−## The pole material shall be selected for the height, wind exposure, and corrosion environment of the installation.
+## Stainless steel shafts shall be fabricated from Type 304 or Type 316 sheet conforming to ASTM A240/A240M, with a continuous longitudinal weld ground smooth and the weld zone passivated.
+## Aluminum gives the lightest shaft for a given stiffness, takes an anodized or coated finish directly, does not rust, and is the material nearly every catalog height and profile is produced in. Fiberglass does not corrode and is not attacked by salt or de-icing chemicals, is nonconductive, and is lighter still, but its wall is thicker for the same stiffness, its surface chalks under ultraviolet exposure without a maintained coating, and its tallest standard heights fall below aluminum's. Galvanized steel is the material for the greatest heights and for flag loads an aluminum extrusion cannot carry in one piece, at the cost of weight, a weld seam, and a finish that must be maintained over zinc. Stainless steel resists chloride exposure that pits a bare aluminum shaft and holds a brushed finish without a coating, at several times the cost of aluminum and from few producers. {note}
+
+## The shaft profile shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Pole material
+label: Shaft Profile
type: radio
options:
− - "Aluminum, alloy 6063-T6 (ASTM B221)"
− - "Fiberglass (filament-wound or pultruded)"
− - "Steel, structural tubing (ASTM A500), galvanized or painted"
−default: "Aluminum, alloy 6063-T6 (ASTM B221)"
+ - "Cone tapered"
+ - "Entasis tapered"
+ - "Untapered"
+default: "Cone tapered"
```
−## Aluminum is the most common material for commercial heights and offers the best strength-to-weight and finish options. Fiberglass suits coastal and corrosive environments where metal corrodes. Steel is reserved for very tall poles, generally 80 ft and above, where aluminum sections become impractical. {note}
+## A cone-tapered shaft tapers uniformly from butt to top and is the lightest shaft for its height, the standard commercial product, and the profile most tables and finials are proportioned for. An entasis-tapered shaft holds the butt diameter over its lower portion and tapers only above it, reproducing the swelling profile of a classical column; the straight lower section adds stiffness and mass where the moment is highest and reads as a heavier, more formal pole at a higher price. An untapered shaft is a plain tube, used for short wall-mounted and outrigger poles and where the pole must match adjacent straight poles or posts. {note}
−## Aluminum shafts shall be extruded from alloy 6063-T6 conforming to ASTM B221, with minimum tensile strength of 30,000 psi and minimum yield strength of 25,000 psi.
+## The shaft construction shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
−## Steel shafts shall conform to ASTM A500 and shall be hot-dip galvanized to ASTM A123 or finished with an architectural coating system.
−
−## The shaft wall thickness shall be not less than 0.188 in (3/16 in) at the butt section for commercial and institutional poles.
−
```datasheet
−label: Minimum butt-section wall thickness
−type: range
−unit: in
−min: 0.188
−max: 0.375
−step: 0.063
−default: 0.188
+label: Shaft Construction
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "One piece"
+ - "Sectional, with concealed internal splice sleeves"
+default: "One piece"
```
−## The 0.188 in minimum butt wall is the dividing line between commercial-grade and light-duty poles. The structural calculation may require a greater thickness for tall poles or high wind speeds; the value here is the floor, not the design value. {note}
+## A one-piece shaft has no joint to show through the finish or to loosen, and it is how poles up to common shipping lengths are made. Above the length a trailer carries, the shaft arrives in sections joined over internal sleeves that are pressed and pinned in the field; the joint is engineered to the full shaft moment, but a hairline at the splice and a slight finish mismatch between sections are visible on a close inspection. {note}
−## The above-grade pole height shall be specified, and the shaft wall thickness shall be sized by structural calculation for that height and the site wind exposure.
+## The exposed height of each pole above finished grade or above its mounting base shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
```datasheet
−label: Above-grade pole height
+label: Exposed Height
type: range
unit: ft
−min: 15
−max: 100
−step: 5
−default: 30
+min: 6
+max: 200
+step: 1
+drawing_ref: "the flagpole schedule or site details"
+default: deferred
```
−## The shaft form shall be selected for the specified height and shipping constraints.
+## The butt diameter of each pole shall be the diameter the sealed ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001 design requires for the exposed height, flag load, and design wind speed, and shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
```datasheet
−label: Shaft form
−type: radio
−options:
− - "One-piece tapered"
− - "Sectional (butt-and-splice)"
− - "Telescoping"
−default: "One-piece tapered"
+label: Butt Diameter
+type: range
+unit: in
+min: 3
+max: 20
+setpoints: [3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20]
+derived: "exposed height, flag load, and design wind speed under ANSI/NAAMM FP 1001"
+default: derived
```
−## A one-piece tapered shaft is preferred for clean appearance and is standard up to common commercial heights. Sectional (butt-and-splice) shafts are used for tall poles or where shipping length is limited. Telescoping shafts are used for the tallest poles. The form affects the appearance of the finished pole and any visible splice joints. {note}
+## The top diameter and the shaft wall thickness of each pole shall be those the sealed design requires, and shall be stated on the shop drawings.
−## The butt diameter shall be sized per the manufacturer's published table for the specified height, wind speed, and flag size, and shall not be less than the values commonly tabulated for commercial poles.
+## Exposed height is set by the site: the building height it reads against, the sight lines from the approach, and the height of neighboring poles in a group, none of which a template can know. Butt diameter is not a second decision but the first one's consequence under the stated flag and wind, so the manufacturer resolves it in the sealed design. A specifier who fixes the butt diameter from a catalog has either repeated the manufacturer's result or contradicted it. {note}
+# Flag Load Basis {toc}
+
+## The largest flag to be flown on each pole shall be as indicated in the datasheet, and shall be the flag size the shaft, base, and foundation are designed for.
+
```datasheet
−label: Nominal butt diameter
+label: Largest Flag Flown
type: select
−unit: in
options:
− - "4"
− - "5"
− - "6"
− - "7"
− - "8"
− - "10"
− - "12"
−default: "6"
+ - "3 ft × 5 ft"
+ - "4 ft × 6 ft"
+ - "5 ft × 8 ft"
+ - "6 ft × 10 ft"
+ - "8 ft × 12 ft"
+ - "10 ft × 15 ft"
+ - "10 ft × 19 ft"
+ - "12 ft × 18 ft"
+ - "15 ft × 25 ft"
+ - "20 ft × 30 ft"
+ - "20 ft × 38 ft"
+ - "30 ft × 50 ft"
+ - "30 ft × 60 ft"
+drawing_ref: "the flagpole schedule or site details"
+default: deferred
```
−## NAAMM FP 1001 sizing is load-driven, not a fixed ratio. As a planning reference, commercial butt diameters run approximately 4 in at 20 ft, 5 to 6 in at 30 ft, 6 to 7 in at 40 ft, and 7 to 8 in at 50 ft. The certified calculation governs the final selection. {note}
+## The number of flags flown together on one pole shall be as indicated in the datasheet, and the design flag load shall be the sum of their areas.
−# Flag Size and Loading {toc}
+```datasheet
+label: Flags Flown Together
+type: range
+unit: flags
+min: 1
+max: 3
+step: 1
+default: 1
+```
−## The flag size shall be specified together with the pole height so the pole can be sized for the resulting wind load.
+## The halyard shall be furnished with one pair of snap hooks for each flag indicated in the datasheet, spaced for the hoist dimensions of the flags.
−## NAAMM FP 1001 sizing is governed by flag load, so an undersized pole carrying an oversized flag can fail in high wind. As a planning reference, a 30 ft pole commonly flies a 4 ft by 6 ft or 5 ft by 8 ft flag. {note}
+## Flag proportion is fixed by custom at close to three by five, so a flag is named by its two sides and its load follows from their product. Two flags flown on one halyard, a national flag above a state or institutional flag, are a common institutional arrangement and nearly double the flag drag the pole must carry; a pole designed for one flag and flown with two is an overloaded pole whether or not the Owner ever learns it. {note}
−## The flag fly dimension should not exceed 25% of the above-grade pole height.
+## The flag size indicated is also the Owner's operating limit. A larger flag flown later exceeds the design, and the maintenance data turned over at closeout states the limit so the Owner can hold to it. {note}
+# Halyard System {toc}
+
+## The halyard system of each pole shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Primary flag size (fly by hoist)
−type: select
+label: Halyard System
+type: radio
options:
− - "3 ft x 5 ft"
− - "4 ft x 6 ft"
− - "5 ft x 8 ft"
− - "6 ft x 10 ft"
− - "8 ft x 12 ft"
− - "10 ft x 15 ft"
−default: "5 ft x 8 ft"
+ - "External halyard with shaft-mounted cleat"
+ - "Internal halyard, rope with cam cleat behind a locking access door"
+ - "Internal halyard, stainless steel cable with manual winch behind a locking access door"
+ - "Internal halyard, stainless steel cable with electric winch"
```
−## The number of flags to be flown simultaneously shall be specified, as it affects the halyard system and the design load.
+## An external halyard runs the rope outside the shaft over the truck sheave and ties off on a cleat at hand height; it is the least costly system, is repaired with a ladder and a length of rope, and is the system on most residential and many commercial poles, but the rope and the flag are reachable by anyone at the base, the rope slaps the shaft in wind, and a cut or stolen halyard leaves the flag down until a bucket truck arrives. An internal halyard runs the line inside the shaft from a sheave in the truck to a cam cleat or winch behind a flush door with a cylinder lock, so the flag can be raised and lowered only by a key holder and the shaft stays silent in wind; its rope version is the lower-cost internal system and is replaced with a messenger line, while the cable version adds a geared winch with a removable handle that lets one person raise a large flag without hauling and resists cutting. An electric winch raises and lowers the flag from a key switch or a remote, which suits a large flag, a tall pole, or a flag that is lowered daily, at the cost of a branch circuit, a control station, and a motor that becomes the pole's one wearing part. {note}
+## Internal halyard access doors shall be flush with the shaft, formed from the shaft material, hinged or removable with a tether, and secured by a cylinder lock.
+
+## Access door and cleat cover locks on all poles of the project shall be keyed alike.
+
+## The internal halyard shall carry a retainer ring and a counterweight that hold the flag at the top of the pole against the shaft under its own weight, with the counterweight sized by the manufacturer for the flag indicated in the datasheet.
+
+## Manual winches shall be self-locking under load in both directions, geared for one-person operation with the largest flag indicated in the datasheet, and operated by a removable handle.
+
+## Stainless steel halyard cable shall be Type 304 or Type 316 aircraft cable of not less than 1/8 in diameter with a swaged stainless steel fitting at each end.
+
+## Halyard rope for external and internal rope systems shall be of the construction indicated in the datasheet, of not less than 5/16 in diameter.
+
```datasheet
−label: Flags flown per pole
+label: Halyard Rope Construction
type: radio
options:
− - "Single flag, one halyard"
− - "Two flags, two halyards"
−default: "Single flag, one halyard"
+ - "Solid-braid polypropylene"
+ - "Solid-braid polyester"
+ - "Wire-center braided polyester"
+default: manufacturer
```
−## A single flag uses one halyard. Two flags flown on one pole require two separate halyards. The total flag load drives the pole sizing, so the flag count must be fixed at design time, not left to the operator. {note}
+## Polypropylene rope is the catalog standard, floats, and costs the least, and it chafes and loses strength under sunlight sooner than the alternatives. Polyester rope holds its strength and its hand through years of ultraviolet exposure and stretches less under a wet flag. A wire-center rope adds a stranded galvanized or stainless core inside the braid so the halyard cannot be cut with a pocket knife, which matters on an external halyard within reach of the public and adds nothing on an internal one. {note}
−# Halyard System {toc}
+## Snap hooks shall be cast bronze or stainless steel, swivel type, with vinyl or neoprene covers that keep the hook from striking the shaft.
−## The halyard system type shall be specified based on the security and operational needs of the site.
+## Where external halyard security measures are indicated in the datasheet, they shall be furnished with the pole.
```datasheet
−label: Halyard system
−type: radio
+label: External Halyard Security
+type: checkbox
options:
− - "External halyard (exposed cleat, rope and snap hooks)"
− - "Internal halyard, cam cleat with locking access door"
− - "Internal halyard, hand winch with locking access door"
− - "Internal halyard, motorized electric winch with remote"
−default: "Internal halyard, cam cleat with locking access door"
+ - "Lockable cleat cover box"
+ - "Wire-center halyard"
```
−## An external halyard runs the rope and snap hooks down an exposed cleat on the shaft; it is simple and economical but exposed to tampering and rope theft. An internal halyard encloses the rope within the shaft behind a locking access door operated by a cam cleat or winch. A motorized internal winch raises and lowers the flag electrically. {note}
+## Electric Winch and Controls {toc}
−## An internal halyard shall be specified as the default for schools, transit, urban plazas, and other high-traffic or vandalism-prone locations.
+### Electric winches shall be furnished as a complete assembly with motor, gear reducer, cable drum, limit switches at the raised and lowered positions, and a manual override for operation during a power failure.
−## External cleat hardware in public locations is routinely tampered with and the rope is stolen. The internal halyard with a locking access door is the appropriate default wherever the pole is within reach of the public. {note}
+### The electric winch shall be controlled from a key-operated station at the pole, from a remote station, or from both, as indicated in the datasheet.
−## Internal halyard access doors shall be flush, weather-resistant, and provided with a keyed or cylinder lock.
+```datasheet
+label: Electric Winch Control Station
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Key switch at the pole base"
+ - "Remote key switch inside the building"
+ - "Key switch at the pole base and remote station inside the building"
+ - "Wireless remote with key switch at the pole base"
+default: "Key switch at the pole base"
+```
−## Halyard rope, snap hooks, and counterweights shall be corrosion-resistant.
+### The control station enclosure shall be of the NEMA type indicated in the datasheet.
−## Halyard rope, snap hooks, and counterweights shall be rated for the flag size and pole height.
+```datasheet
+label: Control Station Enclosure Type
+type: select
+options:
+ - "NEMA Type 1"
+ - "NEMA Type 3R"
+ - "NEMA Type 4"
+ - "NEMA Type 4X"
+ - "NEMA Type 12"
+default: "NEMA Type 3R"
+```
−## Motorized halyard systems shall include the electrical disconnect, control wiring, and remote control specified by the manufacturer, and the supply circuit shall be coordinated with the electrical work.
+### Control stations installed outdoors shall be rated NEMA Type 3R or higher.
−## A motorized winch requires a dedicated circuit and a weatherproof control location. Coordinate the supply and control routing with the electrical contractor [[drawing: motorized halyard power and control routing]]. {note}
+### Control stations installed outdoors at a pole whose corrosion exposure is indicated as coastal or de-icing shall be rated NEMA Type 4X.
−# Ornamental Truck and Finial {toc}
+### The branch circuit, disconnecting means, raceway, and conductors serving an electric winch shall be provided under [[sync/raceways-and-conduit]] and [[sync/conductors-and-cables]], with the raceway entering the foundation or base where shown on [[drawing: the electrical site plan]].
−## The truck (top assembly) shall house the halyard sheave or internal-halyard mechanism and shall be sized to the pole.
+### A station at the pole base lets the flag be raised by whoever holds the key and keeps the control in sight of the flag, while a station inside the building keeps the switch out of the weather and away from tampering and lets a receptionist or security desk lower the flag without going outside; the paired arrangement gives both at the cost of a second station and a control cable. A wireless remote adds convenience for a ceremony and a battery that will be dead the day it is needed, which is why it is paired with a wired key switch. A NEMA Type 1 enclosure suits the indoor station, Type 3R the sheltered outdoor one, Type 4 the station that is hosed down or driven by rain, and Type 4X the same under salt or de-icing spray; Type 12 is a dust-tight indoor enclosure chosen where the indoor station sits in a shop or a plant. {note}
−## The truck is the rotating or fixed top fitting that carries the halyard over a sheave. On internal-halyard poles it integrates the upper pulley. It is selected to match the pole top diameter and the halyard system. {note}
+# Truck and Finial {toc}
−## The finial ornament shall be specified by type and size.
+## The truck shall be of the type indicated in the datasheet, cast or machined from aluminum or bronze, fitted to the top diameter of the shaft, and carrying a sheave or sheaves of a diameter and groove suited to the halyard.
−## The standard finial is a spun ball sized to the pole, commonly stated as a diameter. Eagles and custom finials are available for civic and ceremonial installations. {note}
+```datasheet
+label: Truck Type
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Revolving truck on a sealed bearing"
+ - "Stationary truck"
+default: "Revolving truck on a sealed bearing"
+```
−## The finial type should match the architectural intent of the project.
+## A revolving truck turns on a bearing so that the flag, and the halyard with it, swing to leeward as the wind shifts instead of wrapping the shaft, which is the usual failure of a fixed sheave in a turning wind; its bearing is a sealed part that is replaced from a bucket truck when it seizes. A stationary truck has no moving part other than the sheave and is used on internal halyard poles whose cable enters at the shaft axis and on short wall poles where wrapping is not a service problem. {note}
+## The finial shall be as indicated in the datasheet, sized to the pole in the manufacturer's standard proportion to the butt diameter, and secured to the truck with a stainless steel threaded stud.
+
```datasheet
−label: Finial ornament
+label: Finial
type: radio
options:
− - "Standard ball"
− - "Eagle"
− - "Custom finial (per design)"
−default: "Standard ball"
+ - "Spun aluminum ball, gold anodized"
+ - "Spun aluminum ball, finished to match the shaft"
+ - "Cast eagle"
+ - "Flat cap without ornament"
+ - "Custom ornament"
+default: "Spun aluminum ball, gold anodized"
```
+## The gold ball is the finial on nearly every public and commercial pole in the United States and is what a viewer expects at the top of a flagpole; a ball finished to match the shaft reads as part of the shaft on a pole that is itself a design element; the cast eagle is a civic and veterans' convention that adds projected area and weight at the top of the pole and is sized into the design; a flat cap belongs on a pole that is one of a row of plain masts or carries a yardarm; and a custom ornament, a seal or a weathervane, is a fabrication the manufacturer prices and engineers to order. {note}
+
+## Where nautical fittings are indicated in the datasheet, the pole shall be furnished with a yardarm, a gaff, or both, each with its own halyard and cleat, and the fittings shall be included in the sealed design.
+
```datasheet
−label: Ball finial diameter
−type: select
−unit: in
+label: Nautical Fittings
+type: checkbox
options:
− - "5"
− - "6"
− - "8"
− - "10"
− - "12"
−default: "8"
+ - "Yardarm with halyards at each end"
+ - "Gaff with halyard"
```
−# Finish {toc}
+# Finishes {toc}
−## The pole finish shall be specified by type, class, and color.
+## The finish of aluminum shafts shall be as indicated in the datasheet, applied after fabrication to the full exposed length of the shaft and to aluminum fittings.
```datasheet
−label: Pole finish
+label: Aluminum Shaft Finish
type: radio
options:
+ - "Satin brushed, uncoated"
- "Clear anodized, Class I"
− - "Dark bronze anodized, Class I"
− - "Polyester powder coat (color as scheduled)"
− - "Architectural paint (color as scheduled)"
− - "Fiberglass gel-coat / factory finish (color as scheduled)"
−default: "Clear anodized, Class I"
+ - "Clear anodized, Class II"
+ - "Color anodized, Class I"
+ - "Powder coat, AAMA 2604"
+ - "Fluoropolymer paint, AAMA 2605"
```
−## Clear anodize is the most common metal finish and is economical and durable. Dark bronze anodize and architectural paint or polyester powder coat are selected where color is part of the design. Fiberglass poles are typically furnished with a factory gel-coat or painted finish. {note}
+## Anodized finishes shall comply with AAMA 611 for the class indicated and shall be designated per AA DAF-45, with Class I coatings not less than 0.7 mil thick and Class II coatings not less than 0.4 mil thick.
−## Anodized finishes shall be Class I with a minimum coating thickness of 0.7 mil, conforming to the Aluminum Association AA-M12C22A41 designation or equivalent.
+## Powder coat and fluoropolymer finishes shall be factory applied over a chemical conversion pretreatment to the performance of the AAMA specification indicated, with a dry film thickness not less than the coating manufacturer's published minimum for exterior service.
+## Satin brushed aluminum is the mill shaft given a uniform directional grain and left bare; it costs the least, weathers to a soft gray, and fingerprints and scuffs do not show against the grain, but it has no barrier against chloride pitting. Clear anodizing converts the surface to a hard oxide that holds the brushed appearance and resists abrasion and staining; Class I is the thicker architectural coating that holds up without washing in most exposures, while Class II is thinner, costs less, and keeps its appearance where it is washed and is not under salt. Color anodizing in Class I gives a bronze or black that is part of the metal and cannot peel, in a color range that varies lot to lot and cannot be matched to a paint chip. Powder coat gives any color in a thick, hard film and is the economical colored finish, with chalk and fade resistance to AAMA 2604; fluoropolymer paint to AAMA 2605 gives the longest color and gloss retention of any coating and the only one that matches a 2605 curtain wall or canopy finish beside it, at the highest cost and a thinner, more easily scratched film during erection. {note}
+
+## The finish of carbon steel shafts shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Minimum anodize coating thickness
−type: range
−unit: mil
−min: 0.4
−max: 1.0
−step: 0.1
−default: 0.7
+label: Steel Shaft Finish
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Hot-dip galvanized, uncoated"
+ - "Hot-dip galvanized and powder coated"
+ - "Hot-dip galvanized and fluoropolymer painted"
+default: "Hot-dip galvanized, uncoated"
```
−## Class I anodize at 0.7 mil minimum is the durable architectural grade. A thinner Class II anodize is decorative only and is not appropriate for an exterior pole, particularly in coastal exposures where periodic washing is also required to preserve the finish. {note}
+## A galvanized shaft left bare weathers from a bright spangle to a matte gray and protects the steel for decades without maintenance, which is why it is the usual finish on tall steel poles; a coating over the zinc gives color and keeps the gray from reading as industrial, powder coat being the economical choice and fluoropolymer the one that holds its color longest, and both require the zinc to be sweep-blasted or chemically prepared before coating or the coating peels in sheets. {note}
−# Foundation {toc}
+## Fiberglass shafts shall be finished with a factory-applied ultraviolet-stabilized gel coat or an exterior polyurethane coating, in the color indicated in the datasheet.
−## The foundation shall be designed for the specified design wind speed and the actual soil conditions, and shall not rely on a rule-of-thumb embedment alone.
+## Stainless steel shafts shall be finished with a uniform No. 4 directional brushed finish, with weld zones blended to match.
+## The color of color-anodized, coated, and fiberglass finishes shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Foundation design basis
+label: Finish Color
+type: text
+drawing_ref: "the exterior finish schedule"
+default: deferred
+```
+
+## Fasteners, wedges, retainer rings, and other hardware exposed to the weather shall be stainless steel conforming to ASTM F593 or hot-dip galvanized steel conforming to ASTM A153/A153M, and at a pole whose corrosion exposure is indicated as coastal shall be stainless steel.
+
+## The corrosion exposure of each pole shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Corrosion Exposure
type: radio
options:
− - "Manufacturer standard embedment table"
− - "Site-specific structural-engineer design"
−default: "Manufacturer standard embedment table"
+ - "Inland, not exposed to salt"
+ - "Exposed to de-icing salt spray or industrial fallout"
+ - "Coastal, exposed to marine salt"
+default: "Inland, not exposed to salt"
```
−## A common rule of thumb sets ground-set embedment at roughly 10% of the above-grade height — about 3 ft for a 30 ft pole. This is a planning figure only. The manufacturer's published embedment table for the specified wind speed, or a site-specific structural design correlated to the geotechnical report, governs the actual embedment, which can be non-conservative in soft, expansive, or seismic soils. {note}
+## At a pole whose corrosion exposure is indicated as coastal or de-icing, bare aluminum and Class II anodized finishes shall not be used unless the finish maintenance instructions state a washing interval of six months or less and the Owner accepts it in writing.
−## Foundation design responsibility shall be assigned explicitly.
+## Chloride is the agent that pits aluminum, strips zinc, and undercuts anodizing at a scratch. An inland pole sees it only in rain; a pole beside a salted walk, a parking lot, or a highway sees it as spray every winter, and a pole within reach of sea air sees it every day. The exposure sets the fastener metal, the finish class, and the washing interval the maintenance instructions carry, and it is a property of where the pole stands, which no amount of specification changes. {note}
−## For routine sites the manufacturer's standard embedment table is acceptable. For high-wind sites, soft or expansive soils, or seismic zones, a site-specific foundation designed by the project structural engineer is required. {note}
+# Foundation {toc}
−## Concrete for the foundation shall have a minimum compressive strength of 3,000 psi at 28 days and shall comply with [[sync/cast-in-place-concrete]].
+## The foundation of each freestanding pole shall be designed by the party indicated in the datasheet.
```datasheet
−label: Foundation concrete compressive strength (28-day)
−type: range
−unit: psi
−min: 3000
−max: 5000
−step: 500
−default: 3000
+label: Foundation Design By
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Flagpole manufacturer's engineer, for the soil parameters stated in the geotechnical report"
+ - "Project structural engineer of record"
+default: "Flagpole manufacturer's engineer, for the soil parameters stated in the geotechnical report"
```
−## Ground-set poles shall be embedded directly in the concrete foundation on a leveling base, with the foundation depth taken from the approved embedment schedule.
+## The foundation shall be designed for the base moment and shear of the sealed shaft design, using the allowable lateral and vertical soil pressures stated in the project geotechnical report, or, where the project has no geotechnical report, the presumptive load-bearing values of the [[parameter: adopted-building-code]] for the soil class the Engineer of Record identifies at the pole location.
−## The embedment depth is a function of pole height, wind speed, and soil, and is taken from the approved schedule or the structural design rather than estimated in the field. The foundation dimensions and the embedment depth are shown on the foundation detail [[drawing: flagpole foundation depth and dimensions]]. {note}
+## The foundation shall extend below [[parameter: frost-depth]].
−## Ground-sleeve poles shall be set in a galvanized steel sleeve cast in the foundation, with the sleeve wall not less than 7 gauge (0.188 in) and hot-dip galvanized to ASTM A123.
+## The manufacturer's engineer designs most commercial flagpole foundations, sealing a cylindrical footing for the pole's base moment against the soil values handed over, and that practice is sound wherever the soil is ordinary and the report states values the design can use. The project structural engineer takes the design where the pole stands in soft, expansive, or filled ground, in a slope or a retaining wall backfill, over a utility, or on a structural slab or vault, where the footing interacts with something the pole manufacturer has never seen. In either case the design input is the base moment from the shaft design, so the foundation is not final until the shaft calculation is. {note}
−## A thin-wall sleeve corrodes and fails within five to ten years in wet soil, leaving the pole loose. Specifying the sleeve as "galvanized steel" without a minimum wall thickness is a frequent omission; the 7-gauge minimum and ASTM A123 galvanizing are required for service life. {note}
+## Concrete for the foundation shall comply with [[sync/cast-in-place-concrete]] and shall have the specified compressive strength and exposure classes the foundation design states.
−## Plaza and surface-mounted poles shall be anchored to a cast-in anchor-bolt pattern with a leveling and grout detail.
+## Reinforcing steel for the foundation shall comply with [[sync/concrete-reinforcement]] and shall be placed as the foundation design shows.
−## The anchor-bolt pattern shall be set from a template before the concrete is placed.
+## The foundation top shall be finished to shed water away from the pole, with a crown or a slope of not less than 1/4 in per foot from the shaft to the edge of the foundation, unless the foundation top is finished flush within paving.
−# Lightning Protection and Electrical {toc}
+## Foundation Tube {toc}
−## The flagpole shall be coordinated with the lightning protection design and shown on the lightning protection drawing.
+### Ground-set poles in a foundation tube shall be set in a hot-dip galvanized steel foundation tube furnished by the pole manufacturer, with a welded steel base plate, a ground spike projecting below the plate, and a lightning ground connection lug.
−## NFPA 780 Section 5.2.1 requires a flagpole to have a strike termination device, a down conductor, and a connection to the grounding electrode system. A metal flagpole 15 ft or taller may serve as its own air terminal. Omitting the pole from the lightning protection drawing is a classic coordination gap in which the MEP engineer and the landscape architect each assume the other handled it; the broader system is specified in [[sync/lightning-protection]]. {note}
+### The foundation tube shall be sized to the butt diameter of the shaft with an annular clearance for centering wedges, and shall extend from the base plate to within 1 in of finished grade.
−## A metal flagpole 15 ft or taller may serve as the air terminal of the lightning protection system in lieu of a separate strike termination device.
+### The pole shall be centered and plumbed in the tube with hardwood or steel centering wedges furnished by the manufacturer, and the annular space shall be filled with clean, dry sand compacted in lifts.
−## The metal flagpole shall be bonded to the grounding electrode system in accordance with NEC Article 250 and [[sync/grounding-and-bonding]].
+### The top of the annular space shall be closed with a flashing collar fitted to the shaft and sealed to the shaft and the tube.
−## Where illumination is provided, an electrical conduit shall be stubbed up at the foundation before the concrete is placed.
+### The foundation tube's base plate and spike hold the tube in the wet concrete and bear the pole's compression, the tube keeps the shaft out of contact with the alkaline concrete and lets it be lifted out, the dry sand locks the butt against the tube without trapping water the way a grout would, and the collar keeps rain out of the sand. A tube left ungalvanized, or a collar left off, puts a corroding steel ring and a column of saturated sand against the butt of the shaft at the point of highest stress. {note}
−## Coring a foundation after the fact to add illumination is costly and is often left to a tenant who cannot perform it. The conduit stub-up must be coordinated and installed before the pour. Provide a minimum 1 in EMT or rigid galvanized steel conduit, with the equipment grounding conductor sized per NEC 250.122. The conduit stub-up location is shown on the foundation detail [[drawing: illumination conduit stub-up at flagpole base]]. {note}
+## Direct Embedment {toc}
−## The illumination provision shall be specified, and any required conduit stub-up shall be installed before the foundation pour and coordinated with the foundation detail.
+### Directly embedded poles shall be set on a leveling pad, held plumb by bracing until the concrete has reached the strength the foundation design states for removing it, and shall not be loaded by the halyard or a flag until that strength is reached.
−```datasheet
−label: Illumination provision
−type: radio
−options:
− - "None"
− - "Conduit stub-up only (fixture by others)"
− - "External floodlight, building- or pole-mounted"
− - "Internal LED uplighting with base conduit"
−default: "Conduit stub-up only (fixture by others)"
−```
+### Embedded aluminum shafts shall be coated over the embedded length and 2 in above the concrete with a bituminous or epoxy coating that isolates the aluminum from the concrete.
−## The minimum illumination conduit size shall be specified, with its stub-up location coordinated on the foundation detail before the footing is poured.
+## Shoe Base and Hinged Base {toc}
+### Shoe-base and hinged-base poles shall be set on cast-in anchor rods conforming to [[sync/structural-steel-anchor-bolts]], of the grade, diameter, projection, and pattern the sealed base design states, placed with a setting template furnished by the pole manufacturer.
+
+### Shoe bases shall be cast aluminum or fabricated steel matched to the shaft material, set on leveling nuts, and fitted with a base cover of the shaft material and finish that conceals the anchor rods and nuts.
+
+### Hinged bases shall be fitted with a counterbalance or a winch that lets two people lower and raise the pole with the largest flag indicated in the datasheet, and with a locking pin that secures the pole upright.
+
+### Anchor rod projections above the finished surface shall be protected against corrosion by hot-dip galvanizing or by stainless steel, and the space between the base and the foundation shall be left open for drainage unless the base design requires it to be grouted.
+
+# Wall, Roof, and Canopy Mounting {toc}
+
+## Wall-mounted poles shall be carried on brackets furnished by the pole manufacturer, anchored to structural backing capable of resisting the bracket reactions of the sealed design, and shall not be anchored to veneer, cladding, or finish materials.
+
+## The projection angle of an outrigger bracket from the vertical shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Minimum illumination conduit size
−type: select
−unit: in
−options:
− - "1"
− - "1-1/4"
− - "1-1/2"
−default: "1"
+label: Outrigger Bracket Angle from Vertical
+type: range
+unit: "°"
+min: 0
+max: 60
+setpoints: [0, 30, 45, 60]
+drawing_ref: "the exterior elevations"
+default: deferred
```
−# Multi-Pole and Nautical Sets {toc}
+## The mounting height and horizontal position of each wall-mounted pole shall be as shown on [[drawing: the exterior elevations]].
−## A nautical or plaza set of multiple poles shall be designed and detailed as a coordinated group, not as individual poles.
+## Wall brackets shall be cast or fabricated from the shaft material or from hot-dip galvanized steel, and anchors through a wall assembly shall be sealed against water entry at each penetration.
−## A grouping of three, five, or seven poles must share a unified layout and foundation design so that spacing, alignment, and any foundation overlap are engineered together. Detailing the poles individually produces misalignment and foundation conflicts. The group layout, spacing, and matching heights are shown on a dedicated layout drawing [[drawing: nautical/plaza pole-group layout and spacing]]. {note}
+## Roof- and canopy-mounted poles shall be carried on a base attached to the roof or canopy framing, and the framing's capacity for the base reactions of the sealed design shall be verified by the project structural engineer of record.
−## All poles in a set shall match in height, butt diameter, finish, and ornamental fittings unless the design intentionally varies them.
+## Canopy-mounted poles shall be coordinated with the canopy framing and deck furnished under [[sync/metal-canopies-and-awnings]], with the base connection detailed on the canopy shop drawings.
+## The roof or canopy penetration at a pole base shall be flashed and sealed by the roofing or canopy trade, and the pole base shall be set so that the flashing can be made watertight around it.
+
+## A pole on a roof or canopy loads a structure that was designed for its own roof loads, and its base moment arrives at a single point as a concentrated uplift on one side and bearing on the other; a canopy frame designed for snow and its own wind has rarely been checked for that. The base is therefore a structural coordination item rather than a flagpole accessory, and the penetration through the membrane is a roofing detail that outlives the pole. {note}
+
+# Lightning Protection and Grounding {toc}
+
+## Where the project includes a lightning protection system, each metal pole shall be bonded into that system as a strike-termination device in accordance with NFPA 780 and [[sync/lightning-protection]].
+
+## Where the project has no lightning protection system, each metal pole shall be grounded through the foundation tube ground spike and lug or through a ground rod at the foundation, connected to the pole with a listed bonding conductor and connector.
+
+## Fiberglass poles with an internal halyard cable, a metal truck, or an electric winch shall be grounded by a bonding conductor from the truck to the grounding connection at the base.
+
+## Equipment grounding of the branch circuit serving an electric winch or a luminaire at the pole shall comply with NFPA 70 and [[sync/grounding-and-bonding]].
+
+## A metal flagpole is the tallest conductor in its surroundings and is struck accordingly. Where there is a lightning protection system, the pole is one of its terminals and the system owns the down conductor and the electrode; where there is none, the pole still needs a path to earth so a strike discharges through the spike rather than through the sand, the concrete, and whoever is standing at the cleat. The two cases are a coordination gap on many projects, each trade assuming the other provided the ground. {note}
+
+# Flag Illumination Provisions {toc}
+
+## Provisions for illuminating the flag shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Pole grouping
+label: Flag Illumination Provision
type: radio
options:
− - "Single pole"
− - "Two-pole set"
− - "Three-pole nautical/plaza set"
− - "Five-pole nautical/plaza set"
− - "Seven-pole nautical/plaza set"
−default: "Single pole"
+ - "None"
+ - "Raceway stub at the foundation for ground-mounted luminaires"
+ - "Shaft-mounted luminaire collar with raceway stub at the foundation"
+ - "Solar-powered pole-top luminaire"
```
+## Where a raceway stub is indicated, the raceway shall be cast into the foundation and stubbed up at the location shown on [[drawing: the electrical site plan]], under [[sync/raceways-and-conduit]], before the foundation concrete is placed.
+
+## Where a shaft-mounted luminaire collar is indicated, the collar shall be furnished by the pole manufacturer, fitted to the shaft diameter at the mounting height the luminaire layout requires, with an internal raceway from the base to the collar, and the collar's weight and projected area shall be included in the sealed design.
+
+## Luminaires that illuminate the flag, their aiming, and their controls are provided under [[sync/exterior-lighting]].
+
+## A solar-powered pole-top luminaire shall be furnished by the pole manufacturer as a listed assembly fitted to the truck, with its weight and projected area included in the sealed design.
+
+## Federal flag custom, codified at 4 U.S.C. § 6, allows a flag to be displayed around the clock only when it is illuminated through the night, so a pole whose flag is not lowered daily needs light. A raceway stubbed up in the foundation costs little before the pour and lets the Owner add ground luminaires at any time, while coring the foundation later risks the reinforcing and the tube. A shaft collar carries small luminaires up the pole to light the flag from below without ground fixtures that are tripped over, mowed, or vandalized, at the cost of an internal raceway and a check of the added load. A solar unit at the truck needs no circuit at all and lights the flag where no power exists, with a battery that is replaced every few years and a light output that falls in winter. Leaving the provision out is the right answer for a pole whose flag comes down at sunset, and the worst answer for one whose Owner has not yet decided. {note}
+
# Installation {toc}
−## The flagpole shall be installed plumb, with the foundation cured to the manufacturer's required strength before the pole is raised.
+## Poles shall be set plumb within 1/4 in per 10 ft of exposed height, measured in two directions at right angles after the halyard is rigged and before the flag is flown.
−## Raising a pole before the foundation has reached adequate strength risks loosening the embedment or sleeve. The pole is set plumb and braced until the grout or backfill is complete and cured. {note}
+## Poles in a group shall be set so that their centerlines fall on the layout and spacing shown on [[drawing: the plaza or entrance layout]], and so that their heights, finishes, trucks, and finials match unless the drawings vary them.
−## Ground-set poles shall be braced and held plumb while the foundation concrete and any wedging or grout cures.
+## Each pole shall be located so that the pole, when erected and when being raised or lowered, maintains the clearance from overhead electrical conductors that IEEE C2 and the serving utility require, and the Contractor shall verify that clearance before excavating the foundation.
−## Ground-sleeve poles shall be set in the sleeve with the wedge or shim system and flashing collar furnished by the manufacturer, and the annular space shall be sealed against water entry.
+## The protective wrapping on a finished shaft shall remain in place during erection and shall be removed only after the pole is set, and slings and rigging in contact with the shaft shall be nonmetallic or padded.
−## Water standing in the sleeve annulus accelerates corrosion and freeze damage. The flashing collar and sealant keep water out of the sleeve, and the wedge system holds the pole plumb while allowing removal. {note}
+## Foundation tubes and anchor rod templates shall be set plumb and to the layout before the foundation concrete is placed, braced so that placement does not move them, and checked for plumb and position before the concrete sets.
−## Wall-mounted poles shall be installed on a single-arm bracket anchored to structural backing capable of resisting the cantilever wind load, with the outreach and mounting height as scheduled.
+## Poles shall not be erected until the foundation concrete has reached the strength the foundation design states for erection, and no flag shall be flown until it has reached its specified strength.
−## The bracket transfers a significant cantilever moment into the wall, so the anchorage must land in structural backing, not finish material. The outreach and mounting height are shown on the elevation [[drawing: wall-mounted flagpole bracket location and outreach]]. {note}
+## Sectional shafts shall be assembled on the ground on padded supports, with each splice sleeve driven home and pinned as the manufacturer's instructions direct, before the pole is raised.
−## Dissimilar metals shall be isolated at the base, anchorage, and sleeve to prevent galvanic corrosion.
+## A flagpole is set once and seen from every approach for the life of the building, and a lean of half an inch at the top of a 30 ft pole is visible against a building corner from the parking lot. Plumbing the tube and template before the pour is where that is won, because the wedges in a foundation tube correct an inch and a shoe base's leveling nuts correct a degree, and neither corrects a tube cast crooked. {note}
−## The Contractor shall verify overhead-utility clearance and final pole location with the Owner before excavating the foundation.
+# Testing and Demonstration {toc}
−# Delivery, Storage, and Handling {toc}
+## Each halyard system shall be operated through a full raise and lower with the largest flag indicated in the datasheet before acceptance, and every cleat, door, lock, winch, and limit switch shall be shown to function.
−## Poles shall be delivered in protective wrapping and shall remain wrapped until installation to protect the finish.
+## The continuity of the grounding path from the truck to the grounding connection at the base shall be verified on each pole with a bonding conductor or a lightning protection connection.
−## Anodized and painted finishes are easily marred during handling. The protective wrapping stays on through storage and is removed only after the pole is set, so that scaffolding and rigging do not scratch the finished surface. {note}
+## Each electric winch shall be run through its full travel in both directions, and the raised and lowered limit switches and the manual override shall be demonstrated.
−## Poles shall be stored off the ground on padded supports and shall not be dragged or rolled on abrasive surfaces.
+## The Contractor shall demonstrate the operation of each halyard system, lock, and winch to the Owner's maintenance staff and shall hand over the keys and winch handles at that demonstration.
−## Slings used to lift poles shall be nonmetallic or padded to avoid marring the finish.
+## Correction of a defect found in testing, and retesting after the correction, shall be at the Contractor's expense.
+# Delivery, Storage, and Handling {toc}
+
+## Poles shall be delivered with the finished shaft wrapped in a protective covering over its full length, with trucks, finials, and hardware boxed separately and labeled by pole location.
+
+## Poles shall be stored off the ground on padded supports spaced to prevent sag, under cover, and shall not be dragged, rolled on an abrasive surface, or stacked without separators between shafts.
+
+## A pole damaged or marred in handling shall be repaired to match the reviewed finish sample or replaced, at the Contractor's expense, as the Engineer of Record directs.
+
# Warranty {toc}
−## The manufacturer shall warrant the pole shaft and finish against defects in materials and workmanship for the period specified.
+## The manufacturer shall warrant each shaft, base, bracket, and truck against defects in materials and workmanship, including cracking, splice loosening, and bearing failure under the design conditions, for the period indicated in the datasheet from the date of substantial completion.
```datasheet
−label: Pole shaft warranty period
−type: select
+label: Shaft and Fittings Warranty Period
+type: range
unit: years
−options:
− - "5"
− - "10"
− - "20"
− - "Lifetime (limited)"
−default: "10"
+min: 1
+max: 25
+step: 1
```
+## The finish applicator or the manufacturer shall warrant the shaft finish against peeling, cracking, chalking, and fading beyond the limits of the AAMA specification indicated, for the period indicated in the datasheet from the date of substantial completion.
+
```datasheet
−label: Finish warranty period
−type: select
+label: Finish Warranty Period
+type: range
unit: years
−options:
− - "2"
− - "5"
− - "10"
−default: "5"
+min: 1
+max: 20
+step: 1
```
−## Commercial flagpole shafts are commonly warranted for a long term, and the finish carries its own warranty period. The motorized winch, where provided, typically carries a shorter mechanical warranty. State the required periods so the submittal can be checked against them. {note}
+## Electric winches shall be warranted for not less than two years from the date of substantial completion.
+## A repair or replacement made under warranty shall carry a new warranty for the remainder of the original term or for two years from the repair, whichever is longer, and the cost of access, removal, and reinstallation shall be included in the warranty.
+
+## Shaft warranties range from a single year to the life of the pole and are priced accordingly; the structure rarely fails, so the long shaft warranty costs little and buys a document. Finish warranties track the coating: an anodized or AAMA 2604 finish is commonly warranted five to ten years, an AAMA 2605 fluoropolymer twenty, and a longer term than the coating specification supports is a term no applicator will sign. {note}
+
# Spare Parts {toc}
−## The Contractor shall furnish spare halyard rope and snap hooks for each pole.
+## The Contractor shall furnish the number of complete spare halyard assemblies indicated in the datasheet for each pole, each consisting of rope or cable cut to the pole's halyard length with snap hooks and, for internal systems, the retainer ring and counterweight.
```datasheet
−label: Spare halyard rope (per pole)
−type: select
−options:
− - "One full halyard length"
− - "Two full halyard lengths"
−default: "One full halyard length"
−```
−
−```datasheet
−label: Spare snap-hook sets (per pole)
+label: Spare Halyard Assemblies per Pole
type: range
−unit: sets
+unit: assemblies
min: 0
−max: 4
+max: 2
step: 1
−default: 2
+default: 1
```
−## Halyard rope and snap hooks are the wearing components most likely to need replacement, and matching spares avoid downtime when a flag cannot be raised. Spare quantities are stated below. {note}
+## Spare parts shall be delivered to the Owner, boxed and labeled by pole location, at the demonstration of the halyard systems.
+
+## The halyard is the one part of a flagpole that wears, and a halyard that parts leaves the flag at half-mast or on the ground until a replacement reaches a pole whose truck may be 40 ft up. A spare cut to length and fitted with hooks is replaced the same day with a messenger line; a spare ordered after the failure is replaced the following week. {note}