XML 70 R49.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 08, 2017 USD ($) | Nov. 03, 2017 USD ($) plaintiff | Feb. 07, 2017 plaintiff | Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Aug. 01, 2018 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Standby letters of credit |  |  |  | $ 155,500,000 |
Surety bonds |  |  |  | $ 454,700,000 | $ 2,700,000
Subsidiary ownership interest (in percent) |  |  |  | 33.00% |
Loss contingency amount accrued for probable losses |  |  |  | $ 11,700,000 |
Litigation losses |  |  |  | 3,800,000 |
Energy Savings Contracts |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Guarantee obligation |  |  |  | 176,000,000 |
Performance Guarantee | Joint Venture |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total guarantees |  |  |  | 35,000,000 |
Hussein And Isse |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency amount accrued for probable losses |  |  |  | 3,800,000 |
Settlement amount |  | $ 8,300,000 |  |  |
Isse |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of plaintiffs | plaintiff |  | 220 | 60 |  |
Payments for legal settlements | $ 4,500,000 |  |  |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Amount of reasonably possible loss |  |  |  | 0 |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Amount of reasonably possible loss |  |  |  | $ 4,000,000 |

X
- Definition The total amount of guaranteed energy savings. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abm_GuaranteeObligation
Namespace Prefix: | abm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount of bonds, as of the end of the accounting period, issued by a second party, guaranteeing the fulfillment of the Company's obligations to a third party. In the event that the Company does not meet its obligations, the third party will recover its losses via the bond. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | abm_SuretyBonds
Namespace Prefix: | abm_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913245&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount awarded to other party in judgment or settlement of litigation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of litigation expense, including but not limited to legal, forensic, accounting, and investigative fees. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of loss contingency liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=abm_EnergySavingsContractsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis=us-gaap_PerformanceGuaranteeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=abm_HusseinAndIsseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=abm_IsseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |