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In Singapore, civil-servant bonuses rise and fall with the economys performance, and the latest payout shows the islands growth is cooling.

The government declared a year-end bonus this week equal to 0.8 of a months salary for civil servants, bringing the full-year package to 2.3 months. That compares with 1.1 months at the end of 2013 and 2.5 months for all of last year.

Singapore is bracing for slower global growth with the government predicting Nov. 25 that the islands expansion will slow to about 3 percent this year from 3.9 percent in 2013 and the recovery beyond will be uneven. The nation, which has some of the highest-paid ministers in the world, links civil servants bonuses to how well the $298 billion economy does.

This is in line with the slower pace of growth this year, said Irvin Seah, an economist at DBS Group Holdings Ltd. in Singapore who used to work for the citys trade ministry. Business activity this year is also slow. I would not be surprised that even private-sector bonuses may be trimmed.

Civil servants are typically paid a variable incentive twice a year, on top of a fixed one-month bonus. The mid-year payment was skipped in 2009, when the economy contracted during the global recession.

Singapore may be one of the few countries that explicitly pegs bonuses to growth, said Vishnu Varathan, an economist in Singapore at Mizuho Bank Ltd. That means its got less scope for bouts of populist adjustments, which tend to happen with electoral cycles.

The government said this week the nations 2015 growth outlook remains modest, with a tight labor market domestically restraining construction, retail and food services. It also cited the risk that the euro zone economy will fall into a deflationary spiral, the possibility of an unexpected tightening of U.S. monetary conditions and the threat from geopolitical tensions.

With price pressures easing, scope is growing for the central bank to ease monetary policy at its next decision in April. Core inflation eased to 1.7 percent in October, falling below 2 percent for a second straight month, and the odds of a shift in stance will rise if the gauge slips to 1.5 percent or below, said Chua Hak Bin, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Singapore.

The smaller government bonuses this year could also mirror a weakening of pay increases among Singapore companies, said Wai Ho Leong, a Singapore-based economist at Barclays Plc. The property cycle is slower, tourist arrivals are also slower, so that could be why many firms in the services industries may see slower levels of activity and slow wage growth this year, he said.

Fewer than half of the 1,030 financial services professionals surveyed by eFinancialCareers in September and October in Singapore and Hong Kong expect a higher bonus this year, according to the Dice Holdings Inc. companys website.

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Singapore Civil Servants Win or Lose Bonuses on State of Economy

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K+BB is excited to announce the winners of its coveted Product Innovator Awards for 2014. The five judges had the challenging task of choosing the lucky winners out of 140+ innovative kitchen and bath product submissions.

Awards went to both the Kitchen Product of the Year and Bath Product of the Year, and four products were given an Honorable Mention. For the second year in a row, we have included a Judges Picks category for the additional products the judges felt were worthy enough for recognition.

View the gallery of winners here.

Kitchen Product of the Year: Dekton by Cosentino

Judges love the technology behind and the planet-friendly nature of this great ultra-compact surface option, which is composed of recycled glass, porcelain and quartz. It can be used for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications including flooring, cladding, staircases, exterior facades, kitchen countertops, bathrooms and pool surrounds.

Bathroom Product of the Year: Kohlers Touchless Toilet Technology

The judges are impressed that this modern technology is now available to the residential market and that there is a retrofit option offered. Homeowners also have the option to upgrade an existing toilet to a no-touch flush with an easy-to-install retrofit kit; they can remove the existing flush lever and replace it with a color-matched hole cover if they so desire.

Honorable Mentions - Discovery IQ 48 Dual-Fuel Range by Dacor This Discovery Range is the first to feature Dacors iQ Cooking App and the functionality of an Android tablet. The Remote iQ Cooking App allows home chefs to control the range via their smartphone or tablet from any connected location.

- Trough 4819 by Native Trails Judges chose the Trough 4819, which measures 48-in. x 19-in. x 5-in., because it is a good response to current trends, it is functional and beautiful for many applications, and they applaud the company for good green practices.

- Blue Chilled and Sparkling by GROHE This sleek, easy-to-use, instant filtered water system impressed judges because it saves 1,200 plastic bottles of water per household of four each year, making it better for the environment and the health of the homeowners.

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K+BB Announces Winners of its 2014 Product Innovator Awards

The newest member of Woodside's Architecture and Site Review Board is resident Bruce Carlsmith, the organizer of the town's recent soapbox derbies and an active volunteer for the Woodside Elementary School.

The Town Council approved his appointment on a 5-2 vote on Nov. 18, with council members Anne Kasten and Peter Mason dissenting.

Mr. Carlsmith will serve the remainder of Rick Anderson's four-year term. Mr. Anderson left the seven-member board in mid-October. Mr. Carlsmith's term expires in February 2015, when he would be up for reappointment by the council.

The ASRB's mission is a tough one: preserve Woodside's "rural" character and natural beauty while still allowing residents the freedom to design homes to match their wealth and ambitions.

Mr. Carlsmith is self-employed. According to his application to join the ASRB, he buys, remodels and manages single-family homes and apartments. Most of his work was done in Sacramento and Marin County, he said.

Along with managing the soapbox derbies, his local volunteer work includes the design and construction of a garden building for the school that includes a potting area, kitchen and greenhouse platform on which he assembled a greenhouse. He also built 14 raised-bed garden boxes at the school.

The whole council, including Mr. Mason and Ms. Kasten, made a standing offer to Mr. Carlsmith to be available for questions and advice. "I look forward to having him tell us how the experience is and how it's going for him when he comes back for reappointment," Ms. Kasten told the Almanac.

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Bruce Carlsmith named to Woodside's architecture board

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Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) November 25, 2014

The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has released new research findings that conclude that certain metal roof systems can last at least 60 years, meaning they do not require replacement during a commercial buildings service life. To download the full report from MCA's website, click here.

This study is a breakthrough for the metal construction industry because it finally provides third-party, scientific data that backs up the long held stance that 55% Al-Zn coated steel standing seam roofing systems are very durable, economic, and can be better for the environment, said Scott Kriner, Technical Director, Metal Construction Association. Most non-metal roofing systems require one or more full replacements within a typical building's 60-year service life, which is costly and often adds to the solid waste stream in landfills.

The study, sponsored by MCA and the ZAC Association, was conducted with oversight of three independent consulting firms which analyzed low-slope, unpainted 55% Al-Zn coated steel standing seam roofing, in a wide range of environments across the U.S. This type of roof material is known by many trade names throughout the world, principally GALVALUME and Zincalume in the United States. It is very common on low rise commercial buildings such as warehouses, schools, distribution centers, shopping centers, exposition halls and other facilities. Experts estimate that the market size for this type of low slope roofing in the U.S. is over 350 million square feet.

The study incorporates the results of multiple field inspections, independent laboratory analyses of metallic corrosion of the roof panels, components and sealants, and includes assessment of all integral ancillary components that impact the end of roof service life.

The research team selected 14 building sites in 5 climate regions of various geographies in the continental United States, exhibiting a spectrum of climates related to heat and humidity including Hot-Dry, Hot-Humid, Cold-Dry, Cold-Humid, and Moderate-Acid. The precipitation acidity also varies considerably from one site to the next over this broad geography.

The research study concluded that the expected service life of an unpainted 55% Al-Zn coated steel standing seam roof constructed today in a wide range of environments using best practices can be expected to be in excess of 60 years, a value that equals the assumed building service life as described in the USGBCs Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building rating program, version 4.

In the study, the steel panel roofs experienced corrosion rates that conservatively project service lives well beyond the service life of most buildings. The range depends on the climate and the local precipitation pH.

The study also confirmed that these types of metal roofs resist corrosion even in "weak" spots, such as sheared edges and panel profile bends. Inspections showed an absence of significant red rust after up to 35 years, indicating exceptional corrosion resistance in areas susceptible to exhibiting the first signs of corrosion.

The study acknowledges that all roof systems require a regular maintenance program (at least annually) to clean off debris and to inspect the condition of the roof in order to achieve the kind of service lives shown in this study. While low-slope steel standing seam roof systems were projected to last up to 60 years, ancillary components (such as fasteners) may need to be replaced during the roof life, but this represents significantly less than 20% of a total roof replacement cost.

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Metal Roofs Can Last 60 Years Or More, According To MCA And ZAC Association Research

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Back-to-back capital projects in the Fulton City School District have renovated instructional spaces, upgraded technological systems and safety advancements during the past two years.

The 2012 project saw upgrades to the electrical system, data wiring and asbestos removal from walls and ceilings as a way to modernize the facilities for the next generation of learners. With that project now complete, the district is tackling the remainder of the 2014 venture.

According to Superintendent Bill Lynch, contractors have already made a significant dent in the 2014 capital project.

Completed work includes the replacement of the Lanigan Elementary School gymnasium floor, the construction of an athletic storage building, among other work.

These projects have moved along very well and our facilities are in great shape, Lynch said.

The next phase of the project includes the replacement of lock sets for all classrooms and offices in the FCSD.

School district officials anticipate that bids for this work will be awarded by February, with the installation to take place in the late winter through the summer.

The new locks will make the district even safer, according to Jerry Seguin, FCSDs director of facilities, operations and transportation.

The 2014 project work on the horizon includes the replacement of roofs at Lanigan and Granby elementary schools.

Seguin noted that the construction manager is currently reviewing drawings and that roof work would begin next summer.

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Capital Projects Moving Along In Fulton School District