Chris D asked:


I have a bow window in my living room. Last month i noticed water was coming in through the window as well where the trim meets the window. the problem was there was ice damming and the water was coming in through the roof. the ice damming was pretty bad, from the gutter about 3foot up and the total length of the window about 9 foot. so i called the insurance company and they came out to estimate the damages. i also got 2 contractors out and they sent her an estimate to fix the problem. today i herd from the insurance company and they will send me a check to replace the window minus my deductible. i am fine with that but i think that they should also pay to fix the problem which is ice damming and water coming in my house. i am afraid that after installing a new bow window that next winter i will have the same problem. one contractor said i would just need to keep the area around the window clear of snow and the gutters clean an i wont have a problem. i don’t have ice guard under the shingles and didn’t know that when i bought the house 6 years ago. the roof still has 10 years on it. i think the insurance should pay for whatever fix is needed to keep the water out in the future like ice guard or whatever. what do u think about this? thanks

Credit Card Vending Machine

Mike Milliman asked:


Choking of rain gutters can have the rooftop water wash over the walls, windows, and doors, defeating the very purpose they were first installed for. Debris and rotting leaves peeping out of the rooftop gutter is not a very beautiful sight to behold. Hence, cleaning the gutters regularly is necessary. In most parts of the country gutters need to be cleaned at least three times in a year. However, their position and height above the ground make it no ordinary job for a layman. In addition, as time passes by overhanging ledges and rooftops become slippery due to moss and cracking of concrete and wood. It requires workmen and equipment to safely clean all the gutters and spouts on all the floors. Alternatively, installing a gutter guard or gutter cover is an option available to greatly minimize the yearly maintenance required.

Statistics have shown that the number of injuries at home are reported more during the “gutter cleaning” time of the year. These injuries can vary from being minor to fatal. However, with the advent of gutter covers there has been a drastic reduction in such mishaps. Manual cleaning is not restricted to a fixed time of the year. You may have to climb on to such precarious positions even during a thunderstorm because of the leaves, which flew in and blocked your gutters which were squeaky clean earlier in the day.

A gutter guard is always the better option. A gutter guard in general is an accessory for the gutters to prevent falling leaves, accumulation of dust, and other flying debris from entering the gutter system. Some are made of a sheet of metal or PVC with slits at regular intervals. While water flows along the edge into the gutter, the debris jumps over the edge directly to the ground below. Since all the debris fall off the roof, this eliminates the need for regular cleaning. The smooth surface prevents growth of moss and weeds and saves the effort required in plucking them off the concrete or wooden base. Wire strainers may also, be used to prevent large objects like leaves and pine needles from falling into the gutter. Others consist of a screen of small pores, which can be easily installed and removed for maintenance.

Some gutter guards may have clips, which hold on to the gutter edges and can be opened like a hinged door to enable cleaning at a suitable time. Hybrid gutter guards are completely covered by gutter shingles, and have a fine mesh covering to keep out smaller particles of debris. These guards keep out most of the debris, including buds and seeds, leading to almost no need for yearly cleaning. Besides gutter guards maintain the aesthetics of the home compared to an open and rather discoloured gutter system.

The choice of gutter guards depends on the slope of the roof, presence of trees nearby, type of debris that may fall on the roof top and average rainfall and snow experienced all through the year. Cleaning of such gutters can be done at a safe time of the year and without having to put one’s life and limb in danger. A gutter guard will definitely save you the trouble of climbing the rooftop at odd hours and face the worst of the elements.



New Cpr Guidelines

SCOTT S asked:


When it rains at one point in my soffit (where there is crack from one board stopping and another one starting) water is leaking. The leaks happen about 6-8 inches into the soffit from the gutter side. It is not doing it at the other soffit break points. I just had my house re-roofed last year. My gutters do not have drip guards on them. I recently cleaned out my gutters. Can anyone help me with this issue? Thank you.
When it rains at one point in my soffit (where there is crack from one board stopping and another one starting) water is leaking. The leaks happen about 6-8 inches into the soffit from the gutter side. It is not doing it at the other soffit break points. I just had my house re-roofed last year. My gutters do not have drip guards on them. I recently cleaned out my gutters. Also I took a water hose and sprayed the area that was leaking and now it won’t. leak there. Almost like I need a constant rain. I did take a shingle I had and put roofing cement on it and placed it over an area that looked a small gap was forming close to where the soffit was leaking. Can anyone help me with this issue? Thank you

Compare Gas Furnaces

Sock Woodruff asked:


For years people have been exploring ideas on how to prevent rain gutters from collecting deposits of leaves and debris. Often driven by the desire to avoid the necessity of cleaning the gutters two, or three, or even four times a year, various different ideas have led to the creation of gutter guards, gutter covers, and gutter screens. All of these devices are intended to capture or divert leaves, pine needles, tree flowers, twigs, and other debris away from the rain gutter while freely passing the water into the gutter. So, what are the problems that make these devices less than perfect?

Gutter screens are not like the window screens you use to keep out flies and mosquitoes. These screens have large, open holes, such as the diamond-shaped holes in units made from expanded metal, and pass water very easily. The water will continue to flow in a deluge reminiscent of Noah’s flood. However, some small pieces of organic debris will pass through the relatively large holes. Although this debris is relatively small and is more likely to be washed on out of the gutter by heavy rainfall, it can still collect in the rain gutter over time. In addition, leaf stems, maple seeds, and twigs can start to enter the holes and get stuck. If you live in an area with many trees, one debris layer forms in the gutter, the other on top of the screen.

One of the secondary problems with gutters is that if debris does form some kind of dam in the gutter, thereby creating small pools of standing water, mosquitoes will seek out this water to lay eggs, creating swarms of new mosquitoes right there in your yard. The mosquitoes have no difficulty passing through the big diamond-shaped holes of these screens. If there are any gaps between the screen and the edge of the gutter, or where the ends of screen sections meet, bees, hornets, and wasps can also find their way in. Ultimately, you find you have the gutter-cleaning problem to deal with again. So out comes the ladder and up you go. Now you find that the screen sections complicate the process because you have to remove them to get to the gutter. You also have to pick all the stuff stuck in the holes out of the holes. In addition, in the process of handling the screens, there is the possibility of damaging them, which can also happen if something—like the limb of a tree—falls on the roof and the gutter, or as you grab the gutter as your ladder falls over. Some designs include hinged screens or covers making access a bit easier, but still requiring handling and manipulation.

Screens with smaller holes trap more small particles on top. Sometimes fine dust is blown up into the air and comes back down inside raindrops, coating everything. As it dries it can act like an adhesive, gluing leaves and debris to the surface of covers or guards. These guards and covers do nothing to discourage insects and are susceptible to the same kinds of physical damage from trees and falling branches. While these devices are effective in keeping much of the debris out, none of them completely avoid all these problems; they just make the requirements for maintenance less frequent. So what about gutter filters? What are they and how do they work?

The GutterFill Gutter Filter is made of durable outdoor open cell foam that fits snugly inside your existing gutters. It is formed into four-foot long sections. It is available shaped to fit twelve different gutter size/shape configurations. The block of foam completely fills the gutter (well, not quite; there is an open section at the bottom of the gutter to enhance horizontal water flow). Water passes through the foam like a sieve. The top of the foam block is level with the top of the gutter. All that organic debris is stopped on top of the foam. After the rainstorm has passed, the debris will dry off and blow away. What is this foam made of? It is called polyether-polyurethane. It includes a U.V. stabilizer that enhances foam strength and durability for exposure to weather and sunlight. It probably won’t last forever, but it comes with a 20-year No-Clog Guarantee.

What about the other kinds of problems? Where there is moisture, fungus and mildew often form. To deal with this problem the foam includes a BioCide, which stops the growth of bacteria, moss, mildew, mold, and seeds for the life of the product. Because the foam blocks expand to fill the gutter there are no gaps to allow mosquitoes, bees, wasps, or hornets a way in. The foam is easily installed into existing gutters, whether K-style or half-round, minimizing labor costs. Installation requires no nailing through the existing roof. Moreover, the foam is compatible with roof deicing systems. In addition, unlike products made of aluminum, steel, copper, or other solid materials, the foam can’t dent, crack, or bend. The GutterFill Gutter Filter may not be an absolutely perfect solution—after all, it is only guaranteed for 20 years, but compared with gutter guards, gutter covers, and gutter screens, a 20 year No-Clog Guarantee sounds pretty darn good. Go to GutterSupply.com for further information, pictures, and price information.

Sock Woodruff is founder and partner of GutterSupply.com, the leading manufacturer and distributor of gutter supplies, gutter machines, gutter covers, and related tools and equipment



How To Administer Cpr

Smit Mathur asked:


Roads with no safety measures are prone to accidents that might cause fatal blows to those driving. Road safety products are vital to put-off the accidents that can wrap oneself in the lap of death. With the fast-changing technologies, we are seeing some innovative and high quality Armco products that have been designed to dole out fun and a sense of security while driving on busy roads, especially on highways. 

The products that are enormously bringing safety and security on roads include guardrail (Armco), wire rope safety barrier, crash cushions and guardrail terminal. Some other road safety products viz. steel buffas, workzone barriers, pedestrian fencing and motorcyclist barriers also bring effect of safety on roads. These road safety products are put to roads after getting through rigorous crash testing to fetch optimum desired results. These testing make sure that the users get well-equipped by way of the highest standard of safety barrier systems on road. Besides being put to be used on various road ways, the Armco products are also extensively employed in the world standard sports racing events. 

The Formula one race is held on the track with the ideal Armco products to stave-off dangers that might come to haunt the participants and spectators. Guardrail also features among the road safety products and produced with the top-quality steel and other materials. Guardrail boasts of extremely high resistance to impact and puts off hazardous pocketing. At the same time, their use lessens the ride down acceleration sensed by the vehicle and its users. 

The Armco products contribute heavily to accident free roads as guardrail leads the pack with a bang. Guardrail sports high visibility that brings added confidence to the driver driving with speed. At night or while driving under smoggy conditions with reducing lights of surroundings, the first-rate visibility of guardrail brings forth essence of safe travel in a true way and lessens dangerous centre line crowding. 

Armco products are specifically designed to put drivers amid the safest possible condition. Guardrail goes one step ahead in doing so and brings the maximum road safety with the help of the perfect designing. Guardrail acts amazingly well by reducing wheel snagging and the far-reaching effects of vaulting or rollover. The perfect designing of guardrail makes them the most fitting option for raised medians and gutters. Thus, we see that Armco saves life from getting stuck into any unwanted happenings on the roads. 

With technology extending its help to avert the unfortunate, it is only wise to go for the appropriate road safety products on our roads and gain sense of security with speed. 



Can Vending Machines

Gary Wells asked:


Spring-cleaning does not have to be restricted to indoor chores. If you own your property or are renting a home, it is a good idea to inspect the outside of your house and perform the annual maintenance chores that will keep it in good shape. One of the most important tasks facing you is cleaning your gutters. Don’t let fall leaves and wind-blown debris pile up in your gutters, because when the spring rains hit, there could be a backup that might cause excessive dripping, especially after winter thaws. This drainage can trickle under the roof and become a leak in your ceiling, or make a path down the side of the exterior and leach into your basement to cause damage there. It may be hard to believe, but a handful of clogged leaves or twigs or an out-of-place bird’s nest can create major problems requiring expensive repairs.

The best time to clean your gutters is in early spring, but any time during the year is fine. Plan your work for a good-weather day. Check the forecast and start early in case it starts to rain later. Assemble your tools and equipment first. You will need a sturdy stepladder, a trowel, a hand-held leaf blower or a rake, along with gloves to protect your hands.

Secure the ladder in a stable, level area near the house. Check to make sure it won’t slip. Wear sturdy shoes that will help to keep your balance while on the ladder. Take the rake with you and climb as far as you need to in order to reach the gutter. Use your hand-size rake to gently loosen mud, debris, and leaves from the gutter, taking care not to push too forcefully, which could cause breakage. Use your leaf blower as needed to scatter collected foliage. Remove as much as you can. Then carefully descend the ladder, move it a few feet to the right or left, and repeat the process until you have cleaned all the gutters along the roof.

Aim to spill the debris into a central pile below, on the ground, if possible. You might want to lay out a large, disposable tarp for this purpose. Then simply wrap it up when you are done, and discard it in the trash. Or you can use a permanent, re-usable tarp by gathering the debris with a shovel or rake and bagging it for the trash or transporting it by wheelbarrow to the compost heap, if you have one. Then clean off your ladder and tools, putting them away where you can easily find them the next time a task of this sort comes along.

If several tall trees overhang your roof, you may need to clean the gutters several times a year to prevent leaf and twig buildup. Those who are wary of heights or who lack the proper tools should hire an experienced worker to do the job for them. It’s not worth having an accident if you are uncomfortable with heights or lack suitable equipment.



Water Vending Machines

Terry Edwards asked:


Now that it is fall, like me, your mailbox has probably seen its fair share of ads all telling you to install gutter covers or gutter guards to keep the falling leaves from clogging your rain gutters. But, are these guards really necessary? More importantly, are they cost effective? Here’s a closer look to help you discover the truth.

There is no doubt that gutter cleaning is important for any homeowner. Leaves, dirt, twigs, sediment and other items can clog your gutters and downspouts and create other expenses if left unchecked.

This is where companies have stepped in with gutter covers and gutter guards that will supposedly prevent you from having to ever clean your rain gutters again. That sounds like great news until you discover the sky high costs of these systems.

It can easily cost anywhere from $1500-$2000+ for the average home to have these gutter covers installed on their roofs.

I will say that if you are a do-it-yourselfer, you could install wire screens over your gutter system for less than $250 on the average home.

Now, consider what it will cost to have a gutter contractor or company come out to have a gutter contractor or company come out to clean your gutter every year? In most cases it is $75 - $100 for the job. Let’s say you need it done twice a year. That’s $200 per year versus spending $2000 or more on gutter guards.

Next, beyond the expense factor, consider whether these covers or guards will actually work? The only system I’ve seen that really does what it advertises to do is the Gutter Helmet. Unfortunately, the cost is out of reach for most people with prices of $18 - $20 per foot being the norm.

Why do gutter covers or gutter guards fail? Because, while they all block off large twigs and leaves from getting inside the channel, the smaller debris seeps in and begins to settle, eventually clogging the gutter.

Gutter covers are a great idea and you may want to have them installed on your home, but for most people you may be better off getting them cleaned each year and saving your money.



Compare Gas Furnaces

Sock Woodruff asked:


Just about every house is equipped with rain gutters. They hang there below the roof eaves, just waiting for rain to fall so they can collect the water and direct it away from the walls and foundation of your house. You probably don’t think about them very often…unless you don’t have a gutter protection system installed. Then you have to clean out the gutters now and then—sometimes two to four times per year. If your gutters were properly installed, they were sloped so that the water that comes in would run to and down the downspout. After a rain, the water runs out and the moisture remaining on the surface dries out. Often the gutter system includes some form of gutter protection system. What does that mean? It means gutter guards, gutter covers, gutter screens, or gutter filters that prevent leaves, pine needles, twigs, tree flowers, seeds, seed pods, and other debris from getting into the gutters.

However, if you have no gutter protection system, or if some sections of the covers or screens have become dislodged or damaged, some (or maybe a lot) of debris has been getting into your gutters. Once there it may pile up and stay there, until you get up on a ladder, or hire someone else to get up on a ladder, and clean all of that stuff out. So what? Well, a level of organic debris, whether shallow or the entire depth of the rain gutter, is an invitation for various kinds of things to move in and make it home. If you were aware of the presence of these unintended house guests, you might decide you don’t want them living there with you. If you have debris in the gutter, it can form a little dam inside the rain gutter. After the rainstorm is over this little dam allows a small pool of water to remain standing in the gutter. A pool of still water, whether small or large, is exactly what mosquitoes are looking for.

Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, or they can be dangerous. Those nasty female mosquitoes that want to suck your blood need the nutrients in blood in order to produce eggs, which they lay on the surface of standing water. Each one will lay several hundred eggs. The eggs hatch in 24 to 48 hours into mosquito “wigglers.” They swim around for 7 to 10 days, turn into pupae, which then hatch into new mosquitoes, and there you are, in the yard below the rain gutter, just waiting to be bitten. That crop of mosquitoes will probably not be very welcome at your evening yard party. In addition, they can be dangerous. Mosquitoes are carriers of many kinds of diseases. Malaria is one of the most infamous, although this problem has been practically eliminated in the U.S. However, West Nile Virus (WNV) has been a recent concern. Birds often carry the virus. Mosquitoes bite birds and get infected. Mosquitoes then bite humans and infect us, and we get sick. In 2007, the CDC reported 3,630 cases of human WNV in the U.S. Of those who got sick, 123 died. That doesn’t sound like a terrible problem—unless you or a loved one was one of the 123. Moreover, no one knows what disease mosquitoes will cause us to share next.

Another group of flying pests who might decide your rain gutter is just the home they have been looking for are the various kinds of bees, wasps, and hornets. If you don’t know they are there, it can be a real surprise when you go to clean out the debris in the gutter. They think you are trying to invade their home (which you are) and they don’t understand that they have already invaded your home. Their way of telling you to go away is to sting you. Did you ever see someone try to run when they were standing on top of a ladder? Not a pretty sight—nor is it a very safe one if you are the person on the ladder. In addition to the flying pests, other living things may take up residence. If the rain gutters are full of debris and water, some of the water is going to spill over, possibly wetting down the fascia board behind the gutter, or the wall of your house or foundation. This moist surface could be the perfect place for fungus, mold, mildew, or moss to start growing. The long-term presence of moisture and basic life forms like lichen (a kind of fungus) causes granite rock to gradually break down. Imagine what a permanent layer of moisture and growing stuff can do to your paint, siding, and foundation.

Clean out the rain gutters and installs an effective rain gutter protection system on your house. Go to GutterSupply.com, review the options, and decide what kind of system will work best for you, whether gutter guards, gutter covers, gutter screens, or gutter filters. Then get to work, or call a contractor to get this project going.

Sock Woodruff is founder and partner of GutterSupply.com, the leading manufacturer and distributor of gutter supplies, gutter machines, gutter covers, and related tools and equipment.



Custom Closet Doors

Michael Marchese asked:


Homeowners use gutter guards to prevent debris such as leaves and other particles from clogging the gutter. There are different types of products that people can choose from when purchasing from online stores. A homeowner can purchase them on online stores that sell home appliances or online superstores that retail home and other appliances.

These products should be in good condition, especially during the rainy season, to prevent rainwater from flowing down the walls of a home. One can hire specialized cleaners to do it for them if they do not know how to do it. Most companies that sell home appliances also offer cleaning services for a fee.

Copper Gutter Guards

These are the best for long term use because they do not rust and nor do they rot. Aluminum gutter guards, which are cheaper than most others, are strong. However, they rust when kept in poor conditions. During the winter season, most people experience problems with their gutters, as ice blocks the opening at the top. If a person does not get rid of them the moment they start to build up, then the water may flow over it or against the walls of a home. The freezing temperatures may cause the formation of massive ice dams, thus causing the entire system to over flood. Homeowners can avoid this by having companies install heater cables. This is a costly procedure. However, it is worth the effort and it saves a person the trouble of having to keep unclogging their gutters.

Besides the installation of heater cables, many people purchase gutter guards to prevent ice from forming at the top and falling into the system and blocking it. A homeowner needs to maintain copper gutter guards by purchasing and applying sealants on them regularly to prevent them from turning green. The green color is also called a patina. Some people like it and allow the metal to gradually turn green. Others prefer to maintain the original color and apply the sealant regularly.

Aluminum Gutter Guards

These products also have special sealants that a person may use to prevent them from rusting quite fast. Unlike the green patina, rust will materially impair the effectiveness of the aluminum. Protection and maintenance is important because it enables one to avoid incurring extra costs, which include repair costs or replacements costs. When selecting a suitable solution, one should mull over a number of things such as the circumference of the gutter, the design as well as their functional advantages.

Aluminum, by nature, can be have a natural useful life of about 10 - 15 years. This useful life will vary dramatically depending on several factors including the external environment, the galvanization used and the maintenance employed by the owner. For example, using aluminum products in a house next to the ocean that are not galvanized with some sort of corrosion-resistance coating and poorly maintained is going to have a much shortly lifespan than a zinc galvanized product located in a dry (desert) community with an owner who performs annual maintenance.

From a design perspective, not every product is suitable for every home. Homeowners should try to match gutter guards with the existing system and the type of home. For instance, homes made out of stucco match well with copper, while grey houses blend well with aluminum.

Plastic Gutter Guards

Plastic is another material used in the fabrication process. They come in various colors. Therefore, one can select one that matches their roof. Homeowners can also blend the roof with a gutter guard of a different color though the two should compliment each other. The shape of the product may make a home visually attractive or not attractive at all. This requires a person to compare their shape and that of the product in order to select a suitable piece.

In summary, there are three major types of materials that you can use for your solution, copper, aluminum and plastic. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.



Gas Furnace Reviews

dresscloth asked:


niforms of the Singapore Police Force are a Dark blue (or more accurately Dacron blue), and have remained so continuously since 1969, although the first police uniforms introduced in 1856 were also in the same colour.

The earliest law enforcement officers in the fledgling colony of Singapore wore no uniforms, until in 1856, when the Police Force Act was passed and vested full police powers upon the security forces then in existence, paving the way for uniforms to be introduced. The first uniforms were dark blue-coloured serge coats, trousers, cap and black shoes. White trousers are used for ceremonial parades and special duty. This proved unpopular as the thick material was deemed too uncomfortable in the local tropical climate.

In 1879, a Commission of Enquiry was formed with the task of evaluating the existing uniform, and in 1890, khaki was formally introduced. The khaki uniform comprised a black headdress (locally known as the Songkok), khaki shirt and shorts, black puttees and ankle boots. Strict regulations requiring them to be heavily starched and ironed produced a cardboard-like material which stood out unnaturally. The white gaiters were removed as it was difficult to keep them clean, although they remained part of the ceremonial uniform till 1910.

As the Second World War drew to a close in 1945, the khaki uniform was updated with the black beret replacing the Songkok, and completed by blue grey flannel shirt, brown khaki shorts, dark blue hosetops, black boots and leather belt, and a navy blue whistle lanyard. This uniform became the primary uniform used throughout the force, and was last worn in 1971. The Marine Police wore a white version of the khaki uniform.

http://www.himfr.com/buy-Tunic_Top/”>Tunic TopIn 1969, dacron blue made a comeback to the uniform with a force-wide change away from khaki. The new uniform comprises a dark blue peak cap, shirt, trousers, black belt, shoes and socks, and coded whistle lanyard in blue and white. 3 large and 4 small metal buttons, metal collar badges, and a metal cap badge are affixed, and a black plastic name tag completes the uniform. Metallic ranks, if any, are fixed to the sleeve or on the shoulders for senior officers. The lanyard was changed to a metal chain in 1972, and in 1985, the material of the uniform was changed from 75% polyester 25% cotton to 100% polyester for a smarter bearing and turnout.

Derivatives of the standard blue uniform (collectively called the no.3 uniform) was adopted for specialised forces and for all officers in various occasions which calls for more formal or casual attire. The Traffic Police Department was amongst the few to move away from the all-blue attire, adopting a short-sleeved white tunic, dark blue breeches, a black leather Sam Browne belt, and riding boots for its officers performing mobile squad duties. A white crash helmet is worn when on the move, while a new dark blue jockey cap with chequered white and dark blue patterns around its circumference is worn when convenient while performing static duty.

Members of the Vigilante Corps are also attired by a white short-sleeved top similar in design to the dark blue version for normal officers, gold-coloured buttons and badges, and a dark blue beret in place of the peak cap.

The Gurkha Contingent marches past at the Police Day Parade 2005 held for the last time at the Police academy grounds in Thomson Road. The officers are dressed in the no.3 dress and carry the M16 rifle

The Gurkha trooper’s no.3 dress, also called the working dress, is for general duties, including guard duties and on parade. The dark blue outfit, largely adapted from the Singapore Police Force, includes the standard two front breast pockets on the shirt with aluminium anodised collar badges, buttons and a black plastic name tag atop the right breast pocket. Since removed in the rest of the SPF but retained by the GC are the chromed service number pinned above the name tag, and the whistle and chain.

The shirt is long-sleeved and neatly folded up, unlike the short-sleeved versions adopted for the no.3 dress of the SPF. The sleeves are rolled down when the sun sets, and rolled up again when the sun rises. GC trooper continue to wear aluminium badges of rank, which are worn on the right sleeve 11.5 centimetres below the right shoulder strap. Constables wear aluminium bars at the outer edges of the shoulder straps. The dark blue trousers are secured by the two-pronged black leather Garrison Belt, and completed by standard issued black leather boots.

The trooper wears the Hat Terrai Gurkha when on guard duty and while on parade. While on guard duty, he is armed with a pistol and magazine pouch worn on the belt, and with the Kukri affixed to the back of his belt. Additional weaponry and equipment may be issued depending on situational needs. When not on duty, the officer dons a newly produced brown beret with the metal police cap badge similar to older berets worn by combat officers of the SPF.

Senior Gurkha officers are distinguished by a gold flash on the cap badge. The Duty Unit Sergeant wears an additional red sash with the uniform.

Combat uniforms has also been adopted for specialist units such as those from the Special Operations Command and the Police Coast Guard (PCG), collectively known as the No.4 uniforms. These involve the replacement of metal buttons with sewn-on plastic ones, the avoidance of all other metallic accruements which are deemed potentially hazardous to the officer or to others and the use of long-sleeved shirts. SOC officers wear combat boots while officers in PCG use lace up leather shoes with non-slip soles. These units also tend to adopt the beret as their headgear, although PCG officers use the baseball cap while on operational duties.

There was no major change to the uniform since then, except for the adoption of embroidered shoulder ranks and badges for all ranks in the 1990s. Other changes are less distinct, such as the upgrading of shoes used, the change of the belt material and belt buckle to one including the police crest, and changes to the peak cap to a more durable and ventilated version.

Gurkha officer in new combat dress (Dress No. 4) and armed with Remington 870 shotgun during the Shangri-La Dialogue on 1 June 2007.

The Gurkha no.4 dress is adapted from the combat dress of their regular counterparts, and is also known as the night dress, as they are worn during night duty. They are also worn for civil security duty and training, as well as range practices at any time of the day. The long sleeves of the dark blue shirt is similarly rolled up and down depending on duty requirements and time of day, and is devoid of metal accruements. Junior officers wear their service numbers using white embroidered lettering on a dark blue Velcro backing fixed above their right breast pocket. Ranks are sewn on the right sleeves and made of embroidered, white cloth. The dark blue trousers are tucked into combat boots, and is topped by a dark blue beret.

In recent years, the GC has increasingly adopted the no.4 dress for active duty in public places, incorporating elements from the no.3 dress. Officers on duty during the National Day Parade and the 117th IOC Session wear the no.4 dress but with the Hat Terrai Gurkha. The shirt sleeves are rolled up, and includes the metal whistle and chain. In addition, the rank is not sewn to the sleeves, but worn on a dark blue tab affixed to the right breast pocket with the rank in silver embroidered thread similar to that currently used by regular officers.

Less often seen, but formally in frequent use during rioting incidents is the fire-resistant version of the combat dress, which feature zipper breast pockets and on the trousers. Gurkha officers may also wear the jungle dress, with camouflage-coloured uniforms based on the British Army DPM and jockey cap, and complemented by various forms of webbing for paramilitary training, duties in rural and forested areas, combat fitness training and when dispatched out of Singapore for overseas exercises.

Police Tactical Unit officers on patrol during the Shangri-La Dialogue on 1 June 2007, sporting new uniforms and the signature red berets.

A series of reviews and changes to the uniforms took place across the various police units from the 2000s onwards. In 2002, the whistle chain was completely removed from all uniforms (except for some uniforms worn by the Gurkha Contingent) in the police force, the National Police Cadet Corps, as well as amongst CISCO officers. The new all-cotton combat uniform for the Police National Service Key Installation (KINS) Protection Units was introduced in the same year.

Amongst land divisions, the Number 3 uniform (also known as the working dress) was enhanced with the buttons sewn on (instead of using metal rings previously) in 2004, while the name tag was changed from using a metal pin to Velcro for affixing to the uniform. In 2006, riveted buttons, which were considered to be more secure, were introduced to replace the sewn on buttons. The trousers come with additional side pockets mid-way down the thighs with the main purpose of providing a convenient location for the M-pod, a PDA-sized gadget slated to be launched. Separately, the Police Maternity Dress was also introduced.

For the specialist divisions, the Police Tactical Unit changed their beret from dark blue to maroon in 2005. The combat uniform was also redesigned to a more loose-fitting attire with utility pockets, and the material changed to a cotton-polyester mix which is more durable and fire resistant. The colour of the uniform is also changed to a darker shade of blue for tactical purposes. High-heel boots with gutters were also introduced. The Police Coast Guard introduced a new set of uniforms comprising of a helmet, dark blue polo top and Bermudas for officers performing patrolling duties on Pulau Ubin using bicycles. Also their officers will be changing into a combat uniform which is alike to those issue to the Police Tactical Unit.

From 30 September 2005, new duty belts made of synthetic leather were introduced force-wide, replacing the former practise of securing items individually on the trouser belt. First utilised by officers in Central Police Division on a trial-run basis, the new belt comprises two layers fastened together by velcro strips, allowing for equipment to be removed with ease and a more comfortable and lighter fit for front-line officers. The belt, together with the handcuff pouch, bullet pouch, T-baton and revolver holster are now personally issued to all regular, full-time police national servicemen, and Volunteer Special Constabulary officers. The old leather belts will, however, continue to be in use during non-front line and administrative duties, as well as during appropriate functions.

In 2006, the GC implemented its biggest change to its uniform since the adoption of the present uniform three decades ago, just prior to the commencement of the 61st Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group as part of Singapore 2006. Khaki-coloured berets in place of the Hat Terrai Gurkha and the dark blue beret. The Hat Terrai Gurkha became a largely ceremonial headgear. The combat dress (Dress No. 4) was changed to a cotton-polyester material to match those adopted by other specialised units of the SPF, such as the Special Operations Command and the Police Coast Guard, albeit with a slightly darker shade of blue.

The evolution of uniforms worn by the Police Coast Guard largely mirrors that for the land-based divisions, with its earliest uniforms reflecting British heritage and influence. Early uniforms are based on that of navy sailors, consisting of an all-white attire of long-sleeved shirts and shorts. Officers wore the same Khaki-based uniforms which were introduced in the land divisions from 1890, before switching to the dacron blue uniform in 1969 along with the rest of the police force.

When the Marine Police was reorganised and renamed as the Police Coast Guard in 1993, the uniform was also changed to the Combat (or No. 4) Uniform. This uniform consisted of a long-sleeved shirt and long pants made of a slightly tougher polyester, and does away with almost all metal parts via the use of velcro and plastic buttons. They don a blue beret, but are permitted to wear a baseball cap while on operational duties. Footwear is in the form of lace-up leather shoes with non-slip soles. Unlike the Combat Uniform worn by other units in the police force, the uniform adopted hidden plastic buttons to avoid entanglements, and does away with gutters since shoes, and not boots, are worn to allow rapid removal should water entry be required.

In May 2005, the island Patrol Uniform was introduced, consisting of a helmet, dark blue polo top and Bermudas for officers performing bicycle patrol duties on Pulau Ubin[1]. These were introduced to project a softer image on the island where recreational activities abound, and to provide greater comfort for the officers in the humid outdoor weather.

As part of a force-wide review of the police uniforms, the PCG adopted the new combat uniform similar to that currently worn by the Special Operations Command, albeit with a darker shade of blue. While they were introduced to overcome existing limitations of the current uniform, such as allowing for less-hindrance in body movement due to the more relaxed fit, and its non-flammable properties, they met with opposition from some officers who feel it projects the wrong image to the general public, including its “technician” look. Officers began to don the new combat uniform from 21 August 2006.



Breckwell Pellet Stoves