Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of total purchases from Carrier and its affiliates	57.00%	54.00%	52.00%
Amount payable to Carrier Corporation and its affiliates, net of receivables	$ 62,000	$ 41,000
Revenues from sales to Carrier Corporation and its affiliates	32,961	23,710	22,142
Fees related to Transactional Services Agreements with Carrier Corporation	1,798	1,139	2,177
Amount payable to Carrier related to TSA	25	941
Payment made to Greenberg Traurig, P.A for services performed	120	59	63
Carrier and UTC Canada
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid distributions declared to the noncontrolling interest	$ 29,637	$ 6,630

Receivables to be collected from (obligations owed to) related parties, net as of the balance sheet date where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth.

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Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

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