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Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts |  |  |  |  |  |
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | $ 7,306 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | $ 7,402 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | $ 7,043 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |
Charged to costs and expenses | 1,249 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | 763 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | 1,289 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |
Deductions from reserves, net | 734 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1],[2] | 859 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1],[2] | 930 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | [1],[2]
Balance at end of year | 7,821 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | 7,306 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |  | 7,402 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember |
Income Tax Valuation Allowance |  |  |  |  |  |
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | 4,938 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember |  | 3,961 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember |  | 2,777 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember |
Charged to costs and expenses | 0 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember | [3] | 977 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember | [3] | 1,184 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember | [3]
Deductions from reserves, net | 1,175 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember | [3] | 0 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember | [3] | 0 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember | [3]
Balance at end of year | $ 3,763 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember |  | $ 4,938 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember |  | $ 3,961 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember |
[1] | Activity for 2014, 2013 and 2012 includes currency translation gains (losses) of $(332), $(121) and $428, respectively.
[2] | Bad debts written off, net of recoveries.
[3] | Activity for 2014, 2013 and 2012 includes currency translation gains (losses) of $(643), $242 and $97, respectively.

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- Definition Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 09 -Article 12 + Details
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