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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements reflect the consolidated operations of the Company and have been prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") as defined by the FASB within the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. Inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Related party transactions between the Company and its equity method investees have not been eliminated. Certain immaterial amounts presented in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.The Consolidated Financial Statements include all majority-owned subsidiaries of the Company. A non-controlling interest in a subsidiary is considered an ownership interest in a majority-owned subsidiary that is not attributable to the parent. The Company includes Non-controlling interest as a component of Total equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and the Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries' earnings from operations are presented as an adjustment to Net income from operations used to arrive at Net income attributable to common shareowners in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Partially-owned equity affiliates represent 20-50% ownership interests in investments where the Company demonstrates significant influence, but does not have a controlling financial interest. Partially-owned equity affiliates are accounted for under the equity method.
Use of Estimates The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are based on several factors including the facts and circumstances available at the time the estimates are made, historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Currency Translation Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. subsidiaries, where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, have been translated at year-end exchange rates, and income and expense accounts have been translated using average exchange rates throughout the year. Adjustments resulting from the process of translating an entity’s financial statements into the U.S. dollar have been recorded in the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet within Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Transactions that are denominated in a currency other than an entity’s functional currency are subject to changes in exchange rates with the resulting gains and losses recorded in Net income from operations.
Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits and short-term cash investments that are highly liquid in nature and have original maturities of three months or less. On occasion, the Company is required to maintain restricted cash deposits with certain banks due to contractual or other legal obligations.
Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable consist of billed amounts owed for products shipped to or services performed for customers. Amounts are recorded net of an allowance for expected credit losses which represents the best estimate of probable loss inherent in the Company's accounts receivable portfolio. The allowance is determined using a combination of factors including a reserve based on the aging of the outstanding accounts receivable portfolio and the Company's historical credit loss experience with its end markets, customer base and products. In addition, the Company considers knowledge of specific customers, current market conditions as well as reasonable and supportable forecasts of future events and economic conditions. These estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically with the effects of changes, if any, reflected in the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the period that they are determined.
Fixed Assets Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Assets placed in service are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset. Assets acquired in a business combination are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition. Major expenditures for replacements and significant improvements that increase asset values and extend useful lives are capitalized. Repairs and maintenance expenditures that do not extend the useful life of an asset are charged to expense as incurred.Per ASC 360, the Company assesses the recoverability of the carrying value of its property, plant and equipment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to the future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group.
Equity Method Investments Investments in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not control, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Under this method of accounting, the Company’s share of the net earnings or losses of the investee is presented within Operating profit on the Consolidated Statement of Operations since the activities of the investee are closely aligned with the operations of the Company. The Company evaluates its equity method investments whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may be impaired. If a decline in the value of an equity method investment is determined to be other than temporary, a loss is recorded in earnings in the current period. Distributions received from equity method investees are presented in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows based on the cumulative earnings approach.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets The Company records goodwill as the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. In accordance with ASC 350, goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangibles are tested and reviewed annually for impairment on July 1 or whenever there is a material change in events or circumstances that indicate that the fair value of the asset is more likely than not less than the carrying amount of the asset.
Impairment of goodwill is assessed at the reporting unit level and begins with a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the goodwill impairment test under ASC 350. For those reporting units that bypass or fail the qualitative assessment, the test compares the carrying amount of the reporting unit to its estimated fair value. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is not impaired. To the extent that the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss will be recognized for the amount by which the reporting unit's carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill in that reporting unit.

Intangible assets such as patents, service contracts, monitoring lines and customer relationships with finite useful lives are amortized based on the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are consumed. If a pattern of economic benefit cannot be reliably determined or if straight-line amortization approximates the pattern of economic benefit, a straight-line amortization may be used.
The weighted-average useful lives approximate the following (in years):

Customer relationships
1 to 30
Patents and trademarks
5 to 30
Monitoring lines
7 to 10
Service portfolio and other
1 to 23

The Company assesses the recoverability of the carrying amount of its intangible assets with finite useful lives whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to the future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group.
Leases The Company accounts for leases in accordance with ASC 842: Leases, which requires a lessee to record a right-of-use ("ROU") asset and a lease liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company generally uses its incremental borrowing rate, which is based on information available at the lease commencement date, to determine the present value of lease payments except when an implicit interest rate is readily determinable. The lease term may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. The Company has elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease obligations for its short-term leases, which are defined as leases with an initial term of 12 months or less.
Revenue Recognition The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC 606: Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Revenue is recognized when control of a good or service promised in a contract (i.e., performance obligation) is transferred to a customer. Control is obtained when a customer has the ability to direct the use of and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from that good or service. A significant portion of the Company's performance obligations are recognized at a point-in-time when control of the product transfers to the customer, which is generally the time of shipment. The remaining portion of the Company’s performance obligations are recognized over time as the customer simultaneously obtains control as the Company performs work under a contract, or if the product being produced for the customer has no alternative use and the Company has a contractual right to payment.
Performance Obligations

A performance obligation is a distinct good, service or a bundle of goods and services promised in a contract. Some of the Company's contracts with customers contain a single performance obligation, while others contain multiple performance obligations most commonly when a contract spans multiple phases of a product life-cycle such as production, installation, maintenance and support. The Company identifies performance obligations at the inception of a contract and allocates the transaction price to each distinct performance obligation. Revenue is recognized when or as the performance obligation is satisfied. When there are multiple performance obligations within a contract, the Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation based on its relative stand-alone selling price.

The Company primarily generates revenue from the sale of products to customers and recognizes revenue at a point in time when control transfers to the customer. Transfer of control is generally based on the shipping terms of the contract. In addition, the Company recognizes revenue on an over-time basis on installation and service contracts. For over-time performance obligations requiring the installation of equipment, revenue is recognized using costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure progress. Incurred costs represent work performed, which correspond with and best depict transfer of control to the customer. Contract costs include direct costs such as labor, materials and subcontractors’ costs and where applicable, indirect costs.
The transaction price allocated to performance obligations reflects the Company’s expectations about the consideration it will be entitled to receive from a customer. The Company includes variable consideration in the estimated transaction price when there is a basis to reasonably estimate the amount and when it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue recognized would not occur when the uncertainty associated with variable consideration is subsequently resolved. In addition, the Company customarily offers its customers incentives to purchase products to ensure an adequate supply of its products in distribution channels. The principal incentive programs provide reimbursements to distributors for offering promotional pricing for products. The Company accounts for estimated incentive payments as a reduction in sales at the time a sale is recognized.The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in contract assets and contract liabilities. Contract assets relate to the conditional right to consideration for any completed performance under a contract when costs are incurred in excess of billings under the percentage-of-completion methodology. Contract liabilities relate to payments received in advance of performance under the contract or when the Company has a right to consideration that is conditioned upon transfer of a good or service to the customer. Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue as (or when) the Company performs under the contract.
Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, applying enacted tax rates expected to be in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company recognizes future tax benefits to the extent that realizing these benefits is considered in its judgment to be more likely than not. For those jurisdictions where the expiration date of tax carryforwards or the projected operating results indicate that realization is not likely, a valuation allowance is provided. The Company reviews the realizability of its deferred tax asset valuation allowances on a quarterly basis, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that a review is required and will adjust its estimate if significant events so dictate. To the extent that the ultimate results differ from the Company's original or adjusted estimates, the effect will be recorded in the provision for income taxes in the period that the matter is finally resolved.In the ordinary course of business, there is inherent uncertainty in quantifying the Company's income tax positions. The Company assesses its income tax positions and records tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon management’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. For those tax positions where it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, the Company has recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements.Prior to the Separation, the Company’s income tax provision was prepared following the separate return methodology. The separate return method applies ASC 740 to the financial statements of each member of a consolidated group as if the group members were separate taxpayers. As a result, certain operations of the Company were included in a consolidated return with other UTC entities. The calculation of the Company's income taxes on a separate return basis requires a considerable amount of judgment and use of both estimates and allocations.
Pension and Post-retirement Obligations The Company provides a range of benefit plans to eligible current and former employees. The Company accounts for its benefit plans in accordance with ASC 715 which requires balance sheet recognition of the overfunded or underfunded status of pension and post-retirement benefit plans. Determining the amounts associated with these benefits are performed by actuaries and dependent on various actuarial assumptions including discount rates, expected return on plan assets, compensation increases, mortality and health care cost trends. Actual results may differ from the actuarial assumptions and are generally accumulated into Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized into Net income from operations over future periods. The Company reviews its actuarial assumptions at each measurement date and makes modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends, if appropriate.
Product Warranties In the ordinary course of business, the Company provides standard warranty coverage on its products. Provisions for these amounts are established at the time of sale and estimated primarily based on product warranty terms and historical claims experience. In addition, the Company incurs discretionary costs to service its products in connection with specific product performance issues. Provisions for these amounts are established when they are known and estimable. The Company assesses the adequacy of its initial provisions and will make adjustments as necessary based on known or anticipated claims or as new information becomes available that suggests it is probable that future costs will be different than estimated amounts.
Asset Retirement Obligations The Company records the fair value of legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets in the period in which a liability is determined to exist, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. Upon initial recognition of a liability, the Company capitalizes the cost of the asset retirement obligation by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is increased for changes in its present value and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset.
Stock Based Compensation The Company accounts for stock-based compensation plans in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which requires a fair-value based method for measuring the value of stock-based compensation. Fair value is measured at the date of grant and is generally not adjusted for subsequent changes. The Company's stock-based compensation plans include programs for stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and performance share units.
Research and Development The Company conducts research and development activities with a focus on new product development and technology innovation. These costs are charged to expense as incurred.
Recent Pronouncements
The FASB ASC is the sole source of authoritative GAAP other than SEC issued rules and regulations that apply only to SEC registrants. The FASB issues Accounting Standards Updates ("ASU") to communicate changes to the codification. The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not referenced below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are not expected to have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements and SEC Rules

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, which updates the current guidance to require that an entity recognize and measure contract asset and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination consistent with those recorded by the acquiree immediately before the acquisition. The guidance eliminates the complexity of determining the fair value of contract liabilities and will likely increase the balance of contract liabilities acquired in a business combination with a corresponding increase in post-combination revenue recognized by the acquirer. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 and interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted. In October 2021, the Company early adopted ASU 2021-08 and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The amendments in this update remove certain exceptions allowed by Topic 740 including exceptions to the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or gain from other items, the requirement to recognize a deferred tax liability for equity method investments when a foreign subsidiary becomes an equity method investment, the ability not to recognize a deferred tax liability for a foreign subsidiary when a foreign equity method investment becomes a subsidiary and the general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year. There are also additional areas of guidance in regards to franchise and other taxes partially based on income and the interim recognition of enactment of tax laws and rate changes. The provisions of this ASU were effective for years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 in the first quarter of 2021 and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2020, the SEC issued Final Rule Release No. 33-10786, which amends the financial statement requirements for acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and related pro forma financial information required under SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 3-05. The final rule modifies the significance test required in SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 1-02(w) by raising the significance threshold for reporting dispositions of a business from 10% to 20% and by modifying the calculation of the investment and income tests. In accordance with Rules 3-09 or 4-08(g), the revised income test will apply to the evaluation of equity method investments for significance. The Company adopted these modifications, which were effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2020. The adoption of these amendments did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In November 2020, the SEC issued Final Rule Release No. 33-10980, which amends the requirements for providing selected quarterly financial data, contractual obligations and management discussion and analysis. These modifications were required after August 9, 2021. The Company applied the requirements of this release for this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is involved in various litigation, claims and administrative proceedings, including those related to environmental and legal matters (including asbestos). In accordance with ASC 450, the Company records accruals for loss contingencies when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These accruals are generally based upon a range of possible outcomes. If no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other, the Company accrues the minimum amount. In addition, these estimates are reviewed periodically and adjusted to reflect additional information when it becomes available. The Company is unable to predict the final outcome of the following matters based on the information currently available, except as otherwise noted. However, the Company does not believe that the resolution of any of these matters will have a material adverse effect upon the Company's competitive position, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

Environmental Matters
The Company’s operations are subject to environmental regulation by various authorities. The Company has accrued for the costs of environmental remediation activities, including but not limited to, investigatory, remediation, operating and maintenance costs and performance guarantees. The most likely cost to be incurred is accrued based on an evaluation of currently available facts with respect to individual sites, including the technology required to remediate, current laws and regulations and prior remediation experience.
For sites with multiple responsible parties, the Company considers its likely proportionate share of the anticipated remediation costs and the ability of other parties to fulfill their obligations in establishing a provision for those costs. Accrued environmental liabilities are not reduced by potential insurance reimbursements and are undiscounted.

Asbestos Matters

The Company has been named as a defendant in lawsuits alleging personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos allegedly integrated into certain Carrier products or business premises. While the Company has never manufactured asbestos and no longer incorporates it into any currently-manufactured products, certain products that the Company no longer manufactures contained components incorporating asbestos. A substantial majority of these asbestos-related claims have been dismissed without payment or have been covered in full or in part by insurance or other forms of indemnity. Additional cases were litigated and settled without any insurance reimbursement. The amounts involved in asbestos-related claims were not material individually or in the aggregate in any period.
The amounts recorded for asbestos-related liabilities are based on currently available information and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable and are made with input from outside actuarial experts. In connection with the recognition of liabilities for asbestos-related matters, the Company records asbestos-related insurance recoveries that are deemed probable. These amounts are undiscounted and exclude the Company’s legal fees to defend the asbestos claims, which are expensed as incurred.