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Segment Information - Geographic Information on Long-lived Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Areas [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	$ 151,352us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	$ 152,755us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	$ 147,465us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
United States
Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Areas [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	85,247us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_US	82,274us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_US	82,820us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_US
Germany
Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Areas [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	17,654us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_DE	16,882us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_DE	8,781us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_DE
China
Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Areas [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	15,128us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_CN	16,010us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_CN	14,780us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = country_CN
Other Country
Long-Lived Assets by Geographical Areas [Line Items]
Long-lived assets	$ 33,323us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = msa_OtherCountryMember	$ 37,589us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = msa_OtherCountryMember	$ 41,084us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = msa_OtherCountryMember

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Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.13)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 7

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