High Wind Speed Flagpole Information | All Star Flags

Flagpole Wind Speed Chart

When you're buying a flagpole, you need to think about the windspeed in your area. The high wind speed information map below shows the maximum steady wind
expected at an elevation of thirty feet above ground level within a fifty year period of recurrence. Areas with the same maximum constant or
steady wind speed are indicated. Because wind speeds are usually not constant, and gusts are involved, flagpoles
( both flagged and unflagged) are listed in this catalog with a constant wind speed and a 1.3 gust factor. “WARNING” - recommended flag
sizes throughout this catalog do not represent a warranty that the flag size shown may be safely flown in all wind speeds. Personal injury,
flagpole damage or property damage can occur when flying oversized flags and banners or flying flags in higher winds than recommended.
Flagpoles and their associated wind speeds listed assume that ten percent of the overall length of the flagpole is buried
per or recommendations at or near ground level. Special engineering may be required for other applications such as wall
or roof mounted flagpoles.

Design of safe flagpoles requires knowledge of the loads to which they will be subjected. Principal load acting on
flagpoles is wind load and that load must be carefully determined. Maximum wind speeds to which flagpoles are exposed
depend on geographical location, whether or not it is in the center of a large city, a small town’s outskirts, seashore, at
ground level or on the roof of a high building. Wind speeds generally are higher along coastal areas than inland. They
are also higher in open country than in the center of cities. Wind speed also becomes greater as height above ground increases.  

Wind exerts a force on the pole as well as the flag, thus both loads must be added to determine total load. Flags
of different sizes are designed to be flown from different poles. Obviously, when buying a flagpole, it is important
that you select a flagpole that's capable of supporting the largest flag intended to be flown in the highest wind speed to which
 it will be subjected. Loads on flagpoles are resisted by the mounting foundation, roof or wall to which it is secured.

By Chad Creech, All Star Flags