Major Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Major Accounting Policies

Schedule of property, plant and equipment and ranges of estimated useful service lives

	December 31,
					Estimated Useful Service Lives
(cost in thousands)	2015		2014
Buildings	$	276,161	$	281,852		20 – 40
Building and leasehold improvements		158,052		172,789		6 – 20
Machinery and equipment		1,252,615		1,305,623		2 – 10
Furniture and fixtures		135,701		142,961		2 – 10

Schedule of tax effects of components of other comprehensive income (loss)

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015									2014									2013
(in thousands)	Before-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) Benefit			Net-of-Tax Amount			Before-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) Benefit			Net-of-Tax Amount			Before-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) Benefit			Net-of-Tax Amount
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$	(166,487	)	$	61,892		$	(104,595	)	$	(197,361	)	$	71,552		$	(125,809	)	$	(74,538	)	$	27,637		$	(46,901	)
Ownership share of equity method investees' other comprehensive income (loss)		(12,226	)		4,713			(7,513	)		5,892			(4,054	)		1,838			13,117			(2,372	)		10,745
Defined benefit pension and postretirement plan adjustments		257,414			(94,799	)		162,615			(106,957	)		40,109			(66,848	)		(8,917	)		3,344			(5,573	)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts		(302	)		176			(126	)		(2,837	)		773			(2,064	)		2,171			(787	)		1,384
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities		(337	)		126			(211	)		(700	)		263			(437	)		(1,244	)		466			(778	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		78,062			(27,892	)		50,170			(301,963	)		108,643			(193,320	)		(69,411	)		28,288			(41,123	)
Less: Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(1,267	)		—			(1,267	)		(7,309	)		—			(7,309	)		(772	)		—			(772	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Fluor Corporation	$	79,329		$	(27,892	)	$	51,437		$	(294,654	)	$	108,643		$	(186,011	)	$	(68,639	)	$	28,288		$	(40,351	)

Schedule of changes in AOCI balances by component (after-tax)

(in thousands)	Foreign Currency Translation			Ownership Share of Equity Method Investees' Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available- for-Sale Securities			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net
Attributable to Fluor Corporation:
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	(119,416	)	$	(30,436	)	$	(325,145	)	$	(8,954	)	$	(261	)	$	(484,212	)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		(109,361	)		(9,000	)		(5,382	)		(3,260	)		(116	)		(127,119	)
Amount reclassified from AOCI		6,208			1,487			167,997			2,959			(95	)		178,556
Net other comprehensive income (loss)		(103,153	)		(7,513	)		162,615			(301	)		(211	)		51,437
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	(222,569	)	$	(37,949	)	$	(162,530	)	$	(9,255	)	$	(472	)	$	(432,775	)
Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests:
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	1,328		$	—		$	—		$	(685	)	$	—		$	643
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		(1,442	)		—			—			(101	)		—			(1,543	)
Amount reclassified from AOCI		—			—			—			276						276
Net other comprehensive income (loss)		(1,442	)		—			—			175			—			(1,267	)
Balance as of December 31, 2015	$	(114	)	$	—		$	—		$	(510	)	$	—		$	(624	)

(in thousands)	Foreign Currency Translation			Ownership Share of Equity Method Investees' Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available- for-Sale Securities			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net
Attributable to Fluor Corporation:
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	(164	)	$	(32,274	)	$	(258,297	)	$	(7,642	)	$	176		$	(298,201	)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		(119,252	)		(7,958	)		(74,924	)		(2,151	)		(349	)		(204,634	)
Amount reclassified from AOCI		—			9,796			8,076			839			(88	)		18,623
Net other comprehensive income (loss)		(119,252	)		1,838			(66,848	)		(1,312	)		(437	)		(186,011	)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	(119,416	)	$	(30,436	)	$	(325,145	)	$	(8,954	)	$	(261	)	$	(484,212	)
Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests:
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	7,885		$	—		$	—		$	67		$	—		$	7,952
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications		(6,557	)		—			—			(795	)		—			(7,352	)
Amount reclassified from AOCI		—			—			—			43						43
Net other comprehensive loss		(6,557	)		—			—			(752	)		—			(7,309	)
Balance as of December 31, 2014	$	1,328		$	—		$	—		$	(685	)	$	—		$	643

(in thousands)	Foreign Currency Translation			Ownership Share of Equity Method Investees' Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts			Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available- for-Sale Securities			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net
Attributable to Fluor Corporation:
Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	45,899		$	(43,019	)	$	(252,724	)	$	(8,960	)	$	954		$	(257,850	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(46,063	)		10,745			(13,655	)		(2,536	)		(652	)		(52,161	)
Amount reclassified from AOCI		—			—			8,082			3,854			(126	)		11,810
Net other comprehensive income (loss)		(46,063	)		10,745			(5,573	)		1,318			(778	)		(40,351	)
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	(164	)	$	(32,274	)	$	(258,297	)	$	(7,642	)	$	176		$	(298,201	)
Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests:
Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	8,723		$	—		$	—		$	1		$	—		$	8,724
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications		(838	)		—			—			62			—			(776	)
Amount reclassified from AOCI		—			—			—			4						4
Net other comprehensive income (loss)		(838	)		—			—			66			—			(772	)
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	7,885		$	—		$	—		$	67		$	—		$	7,952

Schedule of significant items reclassified out of AOCI and corresponding location

		Year Ended December 31,
	Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(in thousands)		2015			2014			2013
Component of AOCI:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	Gain related to a partial sale of a subsidiary	$	(9,932	)	$	—		$	—
Income tax benefit	Income tax expense		3,724			—			—
Net of tax		$	(6,208	)	$	—		$	—
Ownership share of equity method investees' other comprehensive loss	Total cost of revenue	$	(1,487	)	$	(15,662	)	$	—
Income tax benefit	Income tax expense		—			5,866			—
Net of tax		$	(1,487	)	$	(9,796	)	$	—
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	Various accounts(1)	$	(268,795	)	$	(12,922	)	$	(12,931	)
Income tax benefit	Income tax expense		100,798			4,846			4,849
Net of tax		$	(167,997	)	$	(8,076	)	$	(8,082	)
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts:
Commodity and foreign currency contracts	Total cost of revenue	$	(3,490	)	$	255		$	(4,502	)
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense		(1,678	)		(1,678	)		(1,678	)
Income tax benefit (net)	Income tax expense		1,933			541			2,322
Net of tax:			(3,235	)		(882	)		(3,858	)
Less: Noncontrolling interests	Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		(276	)		(43	)		(4	)
Net of tax and noncontrolling interests		$	(2,959	)	$	(839	)	$	(3,854	)
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities	Corporate general and administrative expense	$	152		$	140		$	202
Income tax expense	Income tax expense		(57	)		(52	)		(76	)
Net of tax		$	95		$	88		$	126

(1) Defined benefit pension plan adjustments were reclassified primarily to total cost of revenue, corporate general and administrative expense and pension settlement charge.