The United States flag is a vital national symbol with a rich and long history. It symbolizes independence, freedom and the unity of the states. As an important aspect of the nation, the flag is protected by the U.S. Flag Code, which dictates that the flag should only be displayed in public from sunrise to sunset. However, with proper illumination, you can display the flag in the evening and nighttime.
Illuminating the flag also has conditions. When lighting a flag, you must illuminate the flag and the pole, starting from the ground up and making the flag fully visible. Let’s address how to light a flagpole while meeting its conditions.
Types of Fixtures for Lighting Flagpoles
While the law doesn’t specify how to light up a flagpole, it speaks about ensuring proper illumination. According to the American Legion, proper illumination can be from a dedicated light source or any other source that offers sufficient lighting. You’ll need two or three strong light sources to properly illuminate the entire flagpole without casting shadows anywhere on the structure.
One of the fixtures should be directional, allowing you to point the fixture as needed and cast the most light on the flagpole. The other two fixtures can serve a supporting role, providing light from different angles to dispel any shadows. These types of fixtures are most common for lighting flagpoles:
- In-ground lighting: A good option for flagpole lighting is in-ground light fixtures, which remain unseen on the lawn but provide adequate brilliance to light up a flagpole from the ground up. You want to mount the fixtures close to the pole to guarantee enough projection.
- Above-ground lighting: Spotlights are among the best light sources for flagpoles. They focus light upward, along the pole and onto the flag. With the right spacing, above-ground fixtures are the ideal lighting option, providing bright and consistent illumination. Still, there isn’t much difference between above-ground and in-ground fixtures besides the fact that one is visible and the other isn’t.
- Mounted fixtures: These are designed to attach to the pole, providing ambience without casting excess light. A good example is the flagpole light topper that sits on top of the pole and casts light downwards instead of upwards.
Best Light Bulbs for Lighting a Flag
There are various solutions for lighting a flag, ranging from traditional halogen-based lights to modern high-intensity discharge (HID) and high-output LED bulbs. HID and LED lamps offer excellent lighting performance with stronger brightness levels and energy efficiency. However, while HID is one of the most powerful lighting technologies, the bulbs lose luminous output over time, demanding more voltage to maintain the initial lumen output.
LED lamps outperform other lighting technologies in terms of quality and energy efficiency. They last longer, offer excellent light quality and are extremely energy efficient. To put that into perspective, LED bulbs with the least wattage can provide the same light output as high-wattage incandescent bulbs. For example, a 6 to 8-watt LED bulb provides the same luminous output as a 60-watt incandescent bulb and a 13-15-watt compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb.
When selecting quality lighting for flagpoles, you may want to choose LED products. With low-voltage LED light bulbs, you can properly illuminate your client’s flag and help them save significantly on energy costs.
Ideal Lumens and Beam Spread for Lighting Flagpoles
Flagpoles should have enough lighting so everyone can recognize them with ease. There shouldn’t be any object near the flagpole and light source to obstruct illumination. Factors such as the size of the flag and the height of the pole will typically impact the level of lighting needed. A 6-foot flag, for example, is suitable for poles ranging from 20 to 25 feet. You’ll need light bulbs with at least 440 lumens and around 12-24-degree beam spread.
Poles with a height of 30 feet and above need equally large flags starting from 10 feet, with LED light bulbs at least 800 lumens. While some may prefer wider beam spreads depending on flagpole height, that can be too much light that barely reaches the flag. You want to use narrow beams to help focus sufficient light on the pole and flag. Learn more about LED landscape lighting before making a purchase.
However, you also want to pay attention to the diameter the flag creates when it stretches in all directions. For an 8-foot wide flag, for instance, a beam spread covering a 16-foot diameter is a great choice. You can use multiple fixtures to ensure proper beam spread without minimizing the focus on the flagpole.
Tips for Installation and Results
For proper installation, it’s best to bring in a licensed electrician. As a contractor or landscape lighting expert, you understand the care needed when dealing with electrical cords. You want the lighting fixture connected and cords laid out with precaution.
There are several installation tips to consider. However, keep in mind that they’re not set in stone because a professional will rely on experience and best judgment to determine the right approach for illuminating each flagpole.
Keep your lighting fixtures away from the pole at a distance of at least the flag’s length. For 15-foot flagpoles, consider bulbs with at least 1,500 lumens and a 20-degree beam spread. Twenty to 30-foot flagpoles will need higher luminous output, from 7,000 and above. You can stick with a 20-degree beam spread or increase it to 35 degrees.
Here are some best practices for commercial and residential flagpole lighting:
- Commercial installation: For commercial settings like institution flagpoles, use a galvanized pipe driven into the ground and reinforced with cement. You can run the power cords up through the pipe for top-of-the-pole lighting. Consider light fixtures that come with a slipfitter mount for effective installation and durability.
- Residential installation: There isn’t much difference between a commercial and residential installation because the process is the same, even if you’re using bigger or different products like large commercial flood lights. Since residential installation is usually small-scale, lighting from the ground up would be ideal.
Find a Brilliance LED Distributor Near You!
You could be a hired contractor, a distributor of landscape lighting products or a landscaping expert looking to impress your client with quality and unique flagpole lighting solutions. It’d help to understand everything about flagpole lighting to maintain stellar services. From flagpoles and light fixtures to lumen output and installation, having the answer to potential customer concerns helps establish trust and reputation.
At Brilliance LED, we believe in maintaining trust with our distributor network, and we achieve that through well-designed products, quality performance, durability and superior customer service. We’re always looking for ways to make your work easier through innovative solutions, and that allows us to manufacture smart LED lighting products and controls that are long-lasting and easy to operate.
You can join us by applying to become a distributor. If you’re a contractor looking for quality LED lighting products, use our store locator feature to find a Brilliance distributor near you.
