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Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
--- | --- | ---
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Goodwill | $ 246,653us-gaap_Goodwill | $ 252,520us-gaap_Goodwill
North American Segment |  |
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Goodwill | 196,500us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = msa_NorthAmericanSegmentMember |
European Segment |  |
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Goodwill | 48,100us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = msa_EuropeanSegmentMember |
International Segment |  |
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |
Goodwill | $ 2,100us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = msa_InternationalSegmentMember |

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- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
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