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