The percentage reserved for accounts receivable from customers in deteriorating financial condition or bankruptcy.

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- Definition

Represents the maximum remaining maturity period at the time of purchase by the entity for liquid investments classified as cash equivalents.

+ References

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- Definition

The high end of the range of the required percentage voting interest to be held by the reporting entity to use the equity method of accounting to report investments, corporate joint ventures, partnerships and affiliated companies in its consolidated financial statements. If the reporting entity can exercise control over the operations and policies, accounting rules require consolidation of the investee's financial statements.

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- Definition

The number of reportable segments of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The number of reportable segments of the entity prior to the sale of a discontinued operation.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of net sales attributed to services sales.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount of investment made by the entity in United States Treasury securities and money market funds.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 720

-SubTopic 35

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 93-7

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph g

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 86

-Paragraph 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 985

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128462-111756

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 730

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420194&loc=d3e21568-108373

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 2

-Paragraph 12, 13

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 segment	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
High end of the range of the required percentage voting interest held to account for investments with the equity method of accounting	50.00%
Original or remaining maturity period of investment classified as cash or cash equivalent	3 months
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Percentage reserved for accounts receivable due from customers in deteriorating financial condition	100.00%
Fair value of financial instruments
United States Treasury securities and money market funds included in cash equivalents	$ 76.1
Segments and Discontinued Operations
Number of reportable segments prior to the sale of Simpson Dura-Vent Company, Inc.	2
Number of reportable segments	3
Product and Software Research and Development Costs
Product Research and Development Costs	11.5	6.1	6.5
Selling Costs
Advertising expenses	$ 7.2	$ 6.3	$ 5.4
Maximum
Revenue Recognition
Service sales as a percentage of net sales	1.00%
Maximum \| Software
Revenue Recognition
Estimated useful life	5 years
Maximum \| Machinery and equipment
Revenue Recognition
Estimated useful life	10 years
Maximum \| Buildings and site improvements
Revenue Recognition
Estimated useful life	45 years
Minimum \| Software
Revenue Recognition
Estimated useful life	3 years
Minimum \| Machinery and equipment
Revenue Recognition
Estimated useful life	3 years
Minimum \| Buildings and site improvements
Revenue Recognition
Estimated useful life	15 years