Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies	Contingencies Fuel Tech is subject to various claims and contingencies related to, among other things, workers compensation, general liability (including product liability), and lawsuits. The Company records liabilities where a contingent loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. If the reasonable estimate of a probable loss is a range, the Company records the most probable estimate of the loss or the minimum amount when no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount. The Company discloses a contingent liability even if the liability is not probable or the amount is not estimable, or both, if there is a reasonable possibility that a material loss may have been incurred. From time to time we are involved in litigation with respect to matters arising from the ordinary conduct of our business. In the opinion of management, based upon presently available information, either adequate provision for anticipated costs have been accrued or the ultimate anticipated costs will not materially affect our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. We do not believe we have any pending loss contingencies that are probable or reasonably possible of having a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company was notified of certain non-conformance issues with a U.S. customer associated with equipment that requires remedy under the warranty provision of the contract. The Company is in the process of remedying the non-conformance issues. During the first quarter of 2019, the Company filed a notice of claim with our insurance carrier and received a confirmation of insurance coverage. As a result, the company recorded $973 as expected insurance proceeds from our insurance carrier and $1,223 (including the insurance policy deductible of $250) as an accrued liability associated with the remedy of the non-conformance issues identified with our customer for the three months ended March 31, 2019. During the second quarter of 2019, we revised our claim estimate with our insurance carrier and recorded an additional $1,005 as expected insurance proceeds from our insurance carrier and an additional $1,005 as an accrued liability associated with the completion of the non-conformance issues for the three months ended June 30, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, we have total receivables from the insurance carrier of $1,991 in the accounts receivable line of the Consolidated Balance Sheets and a total accrued liability associated with the completion of the non-conformance issues of $760 in the other accrued liabilities line of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recorded the amount due from our insurance carrier as our insurance coverage and the terms are not in dispute and the claim submitted is consistent with the terms of insurance coverage provided. The Company currently has $500 of accounts receivable which is past due associated with this project. Upon satisfactory completion of non-conformance issues identified with the customer, the Company expects to collect the remaining accounts receivable due from the customer. Fuel Tech issues a standard product warranty with the sale of its products to customers. Our recognition of warranty liability is based primarily on analyses of warranty claims experienced in the preceding years as the nature of our historical product sales for which we offer a warranty are substantially unchanged. This approach provides an aggregate warranty accrual that is historically aligned with actual warranty claims experienced. There was no change in the warranty liability balance during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. The warranty liability balance was $159 at September 30, 2019 and 2018.

Contingencies

Fuel Tech is subject to various claims and contingencies related to, among other things, workers compensation, general liability (including product liability), and lawsuits. The Company records liabilities where a contingent loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. If the reasonable estimate of a probable loss is a range, the Company records the most probable estimate of the loss or the minimum amount when no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount. The Company discloses a contingent liability even if the liability is not probable or the amount is not estimable, or both, if there is a reasonable possibility that a material loss may have been incurred.

From time to time we are involved in litigation with respect to matters arising from the ordinary conduct of our business. In the opinion of management, based upon presently available information, either adequate provision for anticipated costs have been accrued or the ultimate anticipated costs will not materially affect our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. We do not believe we have any pending loss contingencies that are probable or reasonably possible of having a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

During the fourth quarter of 2018, the Company was notified of certain non-conformance issues with a U.S. customer associated with equipment that requires remedy under the warranty provision of the contract. The Company is in the process of remedying the non-conformance issues. During the first quarter of 2019, the Company filed a notice of claim with our insurance carrier and received a confirmation of insurance coverage. As a result, the company recorded $973 as expected insurance proceeds from our insurance carrier and $1,223 (including the insurance policy deductible of $250) as an accrued liability associated with the remedy of the non-conformance issues identified with our customer for the three months ended March 31, 2019. During the second quarter of 2019, we revised our claim estimate with our insurance carrier and recorded an additional $1,005 as expected insurance proceeds from our insurance carrier and an additional $1,005 as an accrued liability associated with the completion of the non-conformance issues for the three months ended June 30, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, we have total receivables from the insurance carrier of $1,991 in the accounts receivable line of the Consolidated Balance Sheets and a total accrued liability associated with the completion of the non-conformance issues of $760 in the other accrued liabilities line of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company recorded the amount due from our insurance carrier as our insurance coverage and the terms are not in dispute and the claim submitted is consistent with the terms of insurance coverage provided. The Company currently has $500 of accounts receivable which is past due associated with this project. Upon satisfactory completion of non-conformance issues identified with the customer, the Company expects to collect the remaining accounts receivable due from the customer.

Fuel Tech issues a standard product warranty with the sale of its products to customers. Our recognition of warranty liability is based primarily on analyses of warranty claims experienced in the preceding years as the nature of our historical product sales for which we offer a warranty are substantially unchanged. This approach provides an aggregate warranty accrual that is historically aligned with actual warranty claims experienced.

There was no change in the warranty liability balance during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. The warranty liability balance was $159 at September 30, 2019 and 2018.