Fair Value (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended															12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Thermal Equipment and Services reportable segment business	Dec. 31, 2011 Thermal Equipment and Services reportable segment	Dec. 31, 2010 Thermal Equipment and Services reportable segment	Dec. 31, 2012 Cooling	Dec. 31, 2012 Cooling	Dec. 31, 2011 SPX Heat Transfer Inc.	Jul. 02, 2011 SPX Heat Transfer Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 SPX Heat Transfer Inc.	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Notes	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes	Dec. 31, 2012 Term Loans	Dec. 31, 2011 Term Loans	Dec. 31, 2012 Other indebtedness	Dec. 31, 2011 Other indebtedness	Dec. 31, 2012 Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Current assets - Investment in equity securities	Dec. 31, 2011 Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Current assets - Investment in equity securities	Dec. 31, 2012 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Current assets - FX embedded derivatives, FX forward contracts and commodity contracts	Dec. 31, 2011 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Current assets - FX embedded derivatives, FX forward contracts and commodity contracts	Dec. 31, 2012 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Current liabilities - FX forward contracts, FX embedded derivatives, and commodity contracts	Dec. 31, 2011 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Current liabilities - FX forward contracts, FX embedded derivatives, and commodity contracts	Dec. 31, 2012 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Long-term liabilities - FX embedded derivatives	Dec. 31, 2011 Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) Long-term liabilities - FX embedded derivatives	Dec. 31, 2012 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	Dec. 31, 2011 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)	Dec. 31, 2012 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Current assets - Investment in equity securities	Dec. 31, 2011 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Current assets - Investment in equity securities
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Fair value of derivative assets																			$ 3.6	$ 5.2	$ 0.7	$ 1.2							$ 7.5	$ 7.8
Fair value of derivative liability																							1.3	1.9	9.8	14.8
Trademarks impairment loss											7.5	7.5
Reconciliation of investment in equity securities measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs
Balance at beginning of period																											7.8	8.5
Unrealized losses recorded to earnings																											(0.3)	(0.7)
Balance at end of period																											7.5	7.8
Number of business					2
Impairment charges		281.4			4.5	7.5		11.0	11.0
Fair value of assets and liabilities
Special charges relating to asset impairments		3.4	8.2	6.8	1.6		4.0
Fair value of asset				4.7
Impairments	270.4	270.4	20.8		270.4	20.8		270.4	270.4	3.6	17.2	20.8
Fair value of debt instruments													1,217.8	1,198.0	475.0	800.0	34.7	75.1
Carrying value of debt instruments													1,100.0	1,100.0	475.0	800.0
Carrying value of debt instruments	$ 1,692.0	$ 1,692.0	$ 2,001.1														$ 34.7	$ 75.1