Loans Payable (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Loans Payable (Textual) [Abstract]
Fixed interest rate	8.31%
Loans payable in 2003 and 2005	$ 39,183
Unsecured line of credit facility	20,000,000
Line of credit facility expiry date	Aug. 20, 2013
Credit facility interest rate description	LIBOR PLUS 200 basis points with a 3% floor
Basis points added to base rate	2.00%
Credit facility provided for interest LIBOR floor	3.00%
Unused facility fee payable monthly (basis points)	0.15%
Outstanding borrowings	0
American Safety Capital [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate 30-year trust preferred securities	8,000,000
Interest payment at a floating rate of LIBOR	4.20%
Maturity period of trust preferred securities	30 years
Securities redemption period	5 years
American Safety Capital II [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate 30-year trust preferred securities	5,000,000
Interest payment at a floating rate of LIBOR	3.95%
Maturity period of trust preferred securities	30 years
Securities redemption period	5 years
American Safety Capital Trust III [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate 30-year trust preferred securities	$ 25,000,000
Interest payment at a floating rate of LIBOR	3.40%
Maturity period of trust preferred securities	30 years
Securities redemption period	5 years