XML 40 R12.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.0.814

Other intangible assets with definite lives (Notes) | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Oct. 31, 2015
Other intangible assets with definite lives [Abstract] |
Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block] | Other intangible assets with definite lives. The Company owns several patents, including those covering features of its piping and electronic leak detection systems. Patents are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over a period not to exceed the legal lives of the patents. The Company expenses costs incurred to renew or extend the term of intangible assets. Gross patents were $2.73 million and $2.68 million as of October 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015, respectively. Accumulated amortization was approximately $2.32 million and $2.28 million as of October 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015, respectively. Future amortizations over the next five years ending January 31 will be $13,950 in 2016, $51,950 in 2017, $48,900 in 2018, $39,950 in 2019, $36,950 in 2020, and $214,700 thereafter. Patents are included in other assets in the balance sheet.
| Three Months Ended October 31, | Nine Months Ended October 31,
| 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Patent amortization expense |  | $14 |  |  | $13 |  |  | $40 |  |  | $38 |

X
- Definition Other intangible assets with definite lives [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mfri_OtherintangibleassetswithdefinitelivesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | mfri_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for indefinite-lived intangible assets (that is, those intangible assets not subject to amortization). This accounting policy also may address how the entity assesses whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life and how the entity assesses and measures impairment of such assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51655414&loc=d3e18780-107790 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssetsIndefiniteLivedPolicy
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration