Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
May 31, 2011
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	12. Commitments and Contingencies In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to the effects of certain contractual stipulations, events, transactions, and laws and regulations that may, at times, require the recognition of liabilities, such as those related to self-insurance reserves and claims, legal and contractual issues, environmental laws and regulations, guarantees, and indemnities. The Company establishes reserves when the associated costs related to uncertainties or guarantees become probable and can be reasonably estimated. For the period ended May 31, 2011, no material changes have occurred in the Company’s reserves for self-insurance, litigation, environmental matters, or guarantees and indemnities, or relevant events and circumstances, from those disclosed in the Commitments and Contingencies footnote of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within the Company’s 10-K. For more information on the Company’s commitments and contingencies, please refer to the Commitments and Contingencies footnote of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within the Company’s 10-K. *Product Warranty and Recall Costs* Acuity Brands records an allowance for the estimated amount of future warranty claims when the related revenue is recognized, primarily based on historical experience of identified warranty claims. However, there can be no assurance that future warranty costs will not exceed historical experience. If actual future warranty costs exceed historical amounts, additional allowances may be required, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows in future periods. As of August 31, 2010, the Company had product warranty and recall reserves of $3.6. The Company made payments of $3.8 related to warranty claims and recognized additional estimated warranty and recall liabilities of $4.0 during the nine-month period ended May 31, 2011. As of May 31, 2011, the Company had remaining product warranty and recall reserves of $3.8 (included in Other accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets).

12. Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to the effects of certain contractual stipulations, events, transactions, and laws and regulations that may, at times, require the recognition of liabilities, such as those related to self-insurance reserves and claims, legal and contractual issues, environmental laws and regulations, guarantees, and indemnities. The Company establishes reserves when the associated costs related to uncertainties or guarantees become probable and can be reasonably estimated. For the period ended May 31, 2011, no material changes have occurred in the Company’s reserves for self-insurance, litigation, environmental matters, or guarantees and indemnities, or relevant events and circumstances, from those disclosed in the Commitments and Contingencies footnote of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within the Company’s 10-K.

For more information on the Company’s commitments and contingencies, please refer to the Commitments and Contingencies footnote of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within the Company’s 10-K.

Product Warranty and Recall Costs

Acuity Brands records an allowance for the estimated amount of future warranty claims when the related revenue is recognized, primarily based on historical experience of identified warranty claims. However, there can be no assurance that future warranty costs will not exceed historical experience. If actual future warranty costs exceed historical amounts, additional allowances may be required, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows in future periods.

As of August 31, 2010, the Company had product warranty and recall reserves of $3.6. The Company made payments of $3.8 related to warranty claims and recognized additional estimated warranty and recall liabilities of $4.0 during the nine-month period ended May 31, 2011. As of May 31, 2011, the Company had remaining product warranty and recall reserves of $3.8 (included in Other accrued liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets).