Flag Pole Protocol - Flying the Australian National Flag with Flags of Other Nations

The Australian Government provides protocols to assist you when flying the Australian National Flag. Given the array of circumstances under which the Flag may be flown, there are many protocols that are unique to certain situations. To help you understand the particular protocols specific to flying the Australian National Flag with flags of other nations, PILA has compiled them into a single, easy to read source.

Protocols

1. All the flags should be (if possible)

• the same size
• flown on flag poles of uniform height
• flown at the same position (for instance, half-masting)

2. Unless all flags are raised and lowered simultaneously, the Australian National Flag should be raised first and lowered last

3. According to international practice, no national flag should fly above another in peacetime

4. The flags of other nations should follow the Australian National Flag in alphabetical order starting from the far left

5. The Australian Government policy is to only fly the official flags of nations recognised by Australia

6. The Australian National Flag takes precedence when it is flown in Australia or Australian territory

7. After the Australian National Flag, flags of other nations take precedence over all other flags

Scenarios

Two Flag Poles

The Australian National Flag should be on the left of a person facing the building or memorial

Odd Number of Flag Poles

The Australian National Flag should be in the centre

Even Number of Flag Poles in a Straight Line / One Australian Flag

The Australian National Flag should be on the far left of a person facing the building or memorial

Even Number of Flag Poles in a Straight Line / Two Australian Flags

The Australian National Flag should be flown at each end of the line

Semi-Circle of Flag Poles

The Australian National Flag should be in the centre

Enclosed Circle of Flag Poles

The Australian National Flag should be flown from the flag pole immediately opposite the main entrance to the building or arena or memorial

Protocols are established to help you fly flags appropriately. PILA was established to provide you with the safest poles to fly flags appropriately.

Source: It's an Honour - Australian Government

The Best Banners for Your Commercial Flag Pole

Flag poles are a structural item, engineered to perform their job as flag or banner bearers, or at least that's what you would assume. However there are 2 problems with this assumption: first, many cheaply made products are often not properly designed and tested for wind loading, particularly under Australian conditions; and secondly, even quality flag poles are not designed to fly just any old flag or banner or whatever you want to attach to it.

Most people aren't aware of the extraordinary power of the wind until something hazardous occurs. We've heard numerous tales of flag poles being damaged and even coming down because they were fitted with inappropriate banners that acted as sails when the wind picked up and weren't able to sustain the pressure.

What Not To Wear

Imagine wearing a heavy vinyl sack and you'll start to understand why hanging a vinyl banner from your flag pole isn't appropriate! Not only is it unattractive and weighty, but it's also unable to wave with the wind to expel energy. Instead this heavy fabric acts like a wall and the wind has no recourse but to push it and the pole it's on until they give. Heavy banners that are made from two or more layers of fabric sewn together, ie. double-sided, operate the same way and are equally unsuitable.

What to Wear

Conversely, like a light shirt on a breezy day, a single layer mirror-image printed polyester flag or banner is the perfect fit for a flag pole. Being lightweight it can move with the wind, giving that beautiful flapping movement that makes flags and banners so attractive and draws the eye to see what is printed on the banner.

The Exception

You will have seen large vinyl banners strung between the flag poles at McDonalds restaurants across Australia, and having read the above may be wondering about this practice. On an ordinary flag pole this would be disastrous, however PILA has customised flag poles specifically manufactured for McDonalds that are engineered to withstand the added strain. If you're in a high wind region of Australia or need a flag pole and additional banner combination like McDonalds, PILA can customise a solution for you.

The best practice for caring for your flag pole is to choose a lightweight polyester fabric flag or banner which will look good, fly smoothly and expel the energy of the wind. 

Find out more from PILA - 13 PILA (13 7452) or info@pilaflagpoles.com.au