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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Organization and Description of the Business | Organization and Description of the Business Federal Signal Corporation was founded in 1901 and was reincorporated as a Delaware corporation in 1969. References herein to the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” refer collectively to Federal Signal Corporation and its subsidiaries. Products manufactured and services rendered by the Company are divided into three major operating segments: Environmental Solutions Group, Safety and Security Systems Group, and Fire Rescue Group. The individual operating businesses are organized under each segment because they share certain characteristics, including technology, marketing, distribution, and product application, which create long-term synergies. The Company’s reportable segments are consistent with its operating segments. These segments are discussed in Note 9, Segment Information.
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation | Basis of Presentation and Consolidation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements represent the consolidation of Federal Signal Corporation and its subsidiaries included herein and have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to ensure the information presented is not misleading. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Company’s accounting policies described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and should be read in conjunction with those consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. These statements include all adjustments, including those of a normal recurring nature, that we considered necessary to present a fair statement of our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results reported in these condensed consolidated financial statements should not be regarded as necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. While we label our quarterly information using a calendar convention whereby our first, second, and third quarters are labeled as ending on March 31, June 30, and September 30, respectively, it is our longstanding practice to establish interim quarterly closing dates based on a 13-week period ending on a Saturday with the fiscal year ending on December 31. The effects of this practice are not material and exist only within a reporting year. We have reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Changes | Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Changes In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-04, Liabilities (Topic 405), Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date. This update provides guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this update is fixed at the reporting date, except for obligations addressed within existing U.S. GAAP. The guidance requires an entity to measure those obligations as the sum of the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. The new requirements are effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Retrospective presentation for all comparative periods presented is required. The Company’s adoption of the guidance on January 1, 2014 did not have an impact on its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830), Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity. This guidance clarifies the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity. The new requirements are effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company’s adoption of the guidance on January 1, 2014 did not have an impact on its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This update clarifies that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax position is disallowed. The new requirements are effective prospectively for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2013, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company’s adoption of the guidance on January 1, 2014 did not have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. In September 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released final tangible property regulations under Sections 162(a) and 263(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), regarding the deduction and capitalization of expenditures related to tangible property. The final regulations replaced temporary regulations that were issued in December 2011. The IRS also released proposed regulations under Section 168 of the Code regarding dispositions of tangible property. These final and proposed regulations are effective for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. The Company’s adoption of the regulations on January 1, 2014 did not have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360), Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. This update revises the required criteria for reporting disposals as discontinued operations, whereby such disposals must represent strategic shifts that had (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. The guidance also requires additional disclosures about discontinued operations, including expanded disclosure of any significant ongoing involvement. The new requirements are effective prospectively for all disposals that occur within fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company continues to review the requirements, but does not believe there will be a material impact on its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows when they are adopted. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. This ASU is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, as well as disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions are used for, but are not limited to, revenue recognition, pension and other postretirement benefits, income tax contingency accruals and valuation allowances, workers’ compensation and product warranty accruals, asset impairment, and litigation-related accruals. Actual results could differ from those estimates. There have been no changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

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