Other intangible assets with definite lives (Notes)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2017

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]

Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]

Other intangible assets with definite lives. The Company owns several patents, including those covering features of its piping and electronic leak detection systems. Patents are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over a period not to exceed the legal lives of the patents.The Company expenses costs incurred to renew or extend the term of intangible assets. Gross patents were $2.64 million as of October 31, 2017 and January 31, 2017. Accumulated amortization was approximately $2.41 million and $2.38 million as of October 31, 2017 and January 31, 2017, respectively. Full year amortizations for the next five years ending January 31 will be $45,600 in 2018, $37,500 in 2019, $34,700 in 2020, $28,100 in 2021, and $17,400 in 2022, with the residual balance of $93,800 to be amortized in future periods thereafter. Patents are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

	Three Months Ended October 31,				Nine Months Ended October 31,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Patent amortization expense		$12		$12		$34		$34