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Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

12 Months Ended

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

$ 7,306us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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$ 7,402us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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$ 7,043us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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Charged to costs and expenses

1,249us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
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= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember

763us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
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= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember

1,289us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
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Deductions from reserves, net

734us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
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^[1],[2]

859us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
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^[1],[2]

930us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
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^[1],[2]

Balance at end of year

7,821us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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7,306us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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= us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember

7,402us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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Income Tax Valuation Allowance

Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]

Balance at beginning of year

4,938us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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= msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember

3,961us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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= msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember

2,777us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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= msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember

Charged to costs and expenses

0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
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= msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember

^[3]

977us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
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= msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember

^[3]

1,184us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense
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= msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember

^[3]

Deductions from reserves, net

1,175us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
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= msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember

^[3]

0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
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= msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember

^[3]

0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesDeductions
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^[3]

Balance at end of year

$ 3,763us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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$ 4,938us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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= msa_IncomeTaxValuationAllowanceMember

$ 3,961us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance
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[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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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

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690



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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, charged to costs and expenses.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690



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

-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 235

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