Divestitures and Discontinued Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended							3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011 Hussmann Divestiture [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Hussmann Divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Hussmann Divestiture [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Hussmann Divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Hussmann Divestiture [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Hussmann Divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Hussmann Divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Integrated Systems and Services divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Integrated Systems and Services divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Integrated Systems and Services divestiture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Energy Systems Divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Energy Systems Divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Energy Systems Divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Energy Systems Divestiture [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 KOXKA Divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 KOXKA Divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 KOXKA Divestiture [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 KOXKA Divestiture [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Compact Equipment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2007 Compact Equipment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Immaterial accounting error [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Reduction in liability for unrecognized tax benefits [Member]
Ownership Interest, Anticipated Sale Percentage, Hussmann Business					100.00%
Disposal Group, After tax impairment							$ (384,000,000)
Transaction Costs						9,000,000	3,000,000	12,200,000
Cash proceeds, before purchase price adjustments				370,000,000
Hussmann Parent Initial Ownership Interest, Hussmann Business				60.00%
IR Initial Ownership interest, Hussmann Business				40.00%
Hussmann divestiture, consideration received						438,000,000		438,000,000
Cash proceeds received						351,000,000
Hussmann divestiture, equity consideration						87,000,000
Loss on sale/asset impairment	(646,900,000)	0	0			(260,000,000)		(646,900,000)	[1],[2],[3]	0	0
Loss on sale/asset impairment, after-tax						(162,000,000)
Assets held for sale, net						576,000,000		576,000,000
Disposal group, Accumulated other comprehensive loss						(86,000,000)		(86,000,000)
Indemnification obligation, Hussmann						27,000,000		27,000,000
Discontinued operations, tax benefit																			12,200,000							22,000,000
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation	(69,900,000)	(61,300,000)	(87,600,000)																						29,000,000
Pre-tax gain (loss) on sale	(57,700,000)	(5,400,000)	(28,600,000)									(6,700,000)
Gain (loss) on sale, net of tax												(5,000,000)	0	0		600,000	(3,200,000)	0		0	(900,000)	0
Discontinued Operation, After-tax impairment loss															(8,300,000)				(53,900,000)
Gross proceeds from sale of businesses																								4,900,000,000
Purchase Price Adjustments																							$ 48,300,000

[1] Results represent the operating results of Hussmann Business and Branches through their respective divestiture transaction dates.

[2] Included in Loss on sale/asset impairment for the year ended December 31, 2011 are transaction costs of $12.2 million

[3] During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded a pre-tax loss on sale and impairment charges related to the Hussmann divestiture of $646.9 million. These charges have been excluded from Segment operating income within the Climate Solutions segment as management excludes these charges from Operating income when making operating decisions about the business