2.2.0.25truefalse41204 - Disclosure - Litigation and Uncertainties (Summary of asbestos related payments and insurance settlement proceeds - Table) (Details)truefalseIn Thousandsfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : United States [Member] 1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis_fwlt_UnitedStatesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001130385duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseUnited States [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifwlt_UnitedStatesMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : United States [Member] 1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010 USD ($) $Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010_us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis_fwlt_UnitedStatesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001130385duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseUnited States [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifwlt_UnitedStatesMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2false0fwlt_AsbestosRelatedAccrualCarryingValuePaymentsfwltfalsecreditdurationThe payments for asbestos litigation, defense and case resolution during the period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2160000021600falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1550000015500falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe payments for asbestos litigation, defense and case resolution during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseAsbestos litigation, defense and case resolution payments3false0fwlt_AsbestosRelatedInsuranceProceedsfwltfalsedebitdurationThe amount of asbestos-related insurance proceeds in the period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-9100000-9100falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-9100000-9100falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of asbestos-related insurance proceeds in the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseInsurance proceeds4false0fwlt_AsbestosRelatedAccrualPaymentFundedProceedsReceivedByCompanyfwltfalsecreditdurationThe net cash outflows/(inflows) as a result of current period activity related to payments for asbestos-related indemnity and...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse1250000012500falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse64000006400falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe net cash outflows/(inflows) as a result of current period activity related to payments for asbestos-related indemnity and defense costs and cash receipts from insurance settlement proceeds.No authoritative reference available.truefalseNet asbestos-related payments23Litigation and Uncertainties (Summary of asbestos related payments and insurance settlement proceeds - Table) (Details) (United States [Member], USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue