diff --git a/applications/test/foamVersion/Make/files b/applications/test/foamVersion/Make/files
index 52262afb8e..82922e0ca8 100644
--- a/applications/test/foamVersion/Make/files
+++ b/applications/test/foamVersion/Make/files
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-Test-foamVersionString.C
+Test-foamVersion.C
 
-EXE = $(FOAM_USER_APPBIN)/Test-foamVersionString
+EXE = $(FOAM_USER_APPBIN)/Test-foamVersion
diff --git a/applications/test/foamVersion/Make/options b/applications/test/foamVersion/Make/options
index 6a9e9810b3..18e6fe47af 100644
--- a/applications/test/foamVersion/Make/options
+++ b/applications/test/foamVersion/Make/options
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-/* EXE_INC = -I$(LIB_SRC)/cfdTools/include */
-/* EXE_LIBS = -lfiniteVolume */
+/* EXE_INC = */
+/* EXE_LIBS = */
diff --git a/applications/test/foamVersion/Test-foamVersion.C b/applications/test/foamVersion/Test-foamVersion.C
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8f3e4128fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/applications/test/foamVersion/Test-foamVersion.C
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+  =========                 |
+  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
+   \\    /   O peration     |
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2018 OpenCFD Ltd.
+     \\/     M anipulation  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+License
+    This file is part of OpenFOAM.
+
+    OpenFOAM is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+    under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+    (at your option) any later version.
+
+    OpenFOAM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+    ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+    for more details.
+
+    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+    along with OpenFOAM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+Application
+    Test-foamVersion
+
+Description
+    Print the OpenFOAM version information.
+
+\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include "foamVersion.H"
+
+using namespace Foam;
+
+int main()
+{
+    std::cout
+        << "\nVersion information (macros)\n"
+        << "version   " << Foam::FOAMversion << '\n'
+        << "build     " << Foam::FOAMbuild << '\n'
+        << "buildArch " << Foam::FOAMbuildArch << '\n';
+
+    std::cout
+        << "\nVersion information (namespace)\n"
+        << "version   " << foamVersion::version << '\n'
+        << "build     " << foamVersion::build << '\n'
+        << "buildArch " << foamVersion::buildArch << '\n';
+
+    std::cout
+        << "\nVerify memory addesses are identical:\n"
+        << "macro     " << long(&(Foam::FOAMversion)) << '\n'
+        << "namespace " << long(&(foamVersion::version)) << '\n';
+
+    std::cout
+        << "\nEnd\n";
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+// ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/graphics/ensightFoamReader/USERD_get_reader_release.H b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/graphics/ensightFoamReader/USERD_get_reader_release.H
index 5ebd4425cb..0cccce10a3 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/graphics/ensightFoamReader/USERD_get_reader_release.H
+++ b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/graphics/ensightFoamReader/USERD_get_reader_release.H
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ int USERD_get_reader_release
     Info<< "Entering: USERD_get_reader_release" << endl;
 #endif
 
-    strncpy(release_number, Foam::FOAMbuild, Z_MAX_USERD_NAME);
+    strncpy(release_number, foamVersion::build, Z_MAX_USERD_NAME);
 
 #ifdef ENSIGHTDEBUG
     Info<< "Leaving: USERD_get_reader_release" << endl;
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/Make/files b/src/OpenFOAM/Make/files
index a9466aa28d..84ece4c4b6 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/Make/files
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/Make/files
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ global/profiling/profilingInformation.C
 global/profiling/profilingSysInfo.C
 global/profiling/profilingTrigger.C
 global/etcFiles/etcFiles.C
+global/version/foamVersion.C
 
 fileOps = global/fileOperations
 $(fileOps)/fileOperation/fileOperation.C
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobject/IOobjectWriteHeader.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobject/IOobjectWriteHeader.C
index 441f0b893d..c970a49e37 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobject/IOobjectWriteHeader.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobject/IOobjectWriteHeader.C
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Foam::Ostream& Foam::IOobject::writeBanner(Ostream& os, bool noHint)
     if (!*paddedVersion)
     {
         // Populate: like strncpy but without trailing '\0'
-        const char *p = Foam::FOAMversion;
+        const char *p = foamVersion::version;
 
         memset(paddedVersion, ' ', 38);
         for (int i = 0; *p && i < 38; ++i)
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ bool Foam::IOobject::writeHeader(Ostream& os, const word& type) const
 
     if (os.format() == IOstream::BINARY)
     {
-        os  << "    arch        " << Foam::FOAMbuildArch << ";\n";
+        os  << "    arch        " << foamVersion::buildArch << ";\n";
     }
 
     if (!note().empty())
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobjects/decomposedBlockData/decomposedBlockData.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobjects/decomposedBlockData/decomposedBlockData.C
index cca72be73f..92c2c0dd48 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobjects/decomposedBlockData/decomposedBlockData.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOobjects/decomposedBlockData/decomposedBlockData.C
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ void Foam::decomposedBlockData::writeHeader
     /*
     if (os.format() == IOstream::BINARY)
     {
-        os  << "    arch        " << Foam::FOAMbuildArch << ";\n";
+        os  << "    arch        " << foamVersion::buildArch << ";\n";
     }
     */
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C
index 245f5d67e5..6168c68a97 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C
@@ -181,24 +181,6 @@ static void printHostsSubscription(const UList<string>& slaveProcs)
     Info<< ")" << nl;
 }
 
-
-// Print information about version, build, arch
-static void printBuildInfo(const bool full=true)
-{
-    Info<<"Using: OpenFOAM-" << Foam::FOAMversion
-        << " (see www.OpenFOAM.com)" << nl
-        << "Build: " << Foam::FOAMbuild
-        #if OPENFOAM
-        << " (OPENFOAM=" << OPENFOAM << ')'
-        #endif
-        << nl;
-
-    if (full)
-    {
-        Info << "Arch:  " << Foam::FOAMbuildArch.c_str() << nl;
-    }
-}
-
 } // End namespace Foam
 
 
@@ -776,7 +758,7 @@ Foam::argList::argList
                 ++argi;
                 if (argi >= args_.size())
                 {
-                    printBuildInfo(false);
+                    foamVersion::printBuildInfo(false);
 
                     Info<<nl
                         <<"Error: option '-" << optName
@@ -903,7 +885,7 @@ void Foam::argList::parse
     // Print the collected error messages and exit if check fails
     if (!check(checkArgs, checkOpts))
     {
-        printBuildInfo(false);
+        foamVersion::printBuildInfo(false);
         FatalError.write(Info, false);
 
         Pstream::exit(1); // works for serial and parallel
@@ -918,12 +900,12 @@ void Foam::argList::parse
         if (Pstream::master() && bannerEnabled())
         {
             IOobject::writeBanner(Info, true)
-                << "Build  : " << Foam::FOAMbuild
+                << "Build  : " << foamVersion::build
                 #if OPENFOAM
                 << " (OPENFOAM=" << OPENFOAM << ')'
                 #endif
                 << nl
-                << "Arch   : " << Foam::FOAMbuildArch << nl
+                << "Arch   : " << foamVersion::buildArch << nl
                 << "Exec   : " << commandLine_.c_str() << nl
                 << "Date   : " << dateString.c_str() << nl
                 << "Time   : " << timeString.c_str() << nl
@@ -934,7 +916,7 @@ void Foam::argList::parse
         jobInfo.add("startDate", dateString);
         jobInfo.add("startTime", timeString);
         jobInfo.add("userName", userName());
-        jobInfo.add("foamVersion", word(Foam::FOAMversion));
+        jobInfo.add("foamVersion", word(foamVersion::version));
         jobInfo.add("code", executable_);
         jobInfo.add("argList", commandLine_);
         jobInfo.add("currentDir", cwd());
@@ -943,8 +925,8 @@ void Foam::argList::parse
 
         // Add build information - only use the first word
         {
-            std::string build(Foam::FOAMbuild);
-            std::string::size_type space = build.find(' ');
+            std::string build(foamVersion::build);
+            const auto space = build.find(' ');
             if (space != std::string::npos)
             {
                 build.resize(space);
@@ -1004,10 +986,10 @@ void Foam::argList::parse
                 proci++;
 
                 // Verify that all processors are running the same build
-                if (slaveBuild != Foam::FOAMbuild)
+                if (slaveBuild != foamVersion::build)
                 {
                     FatalErrorIn(executable())
-                        << "Master is running version " << Foam::FOAMbuild
+                        << "Master is running version " << foamVersion::build
                         << "; slave " << proci << " is running version "
                         << slaveBuild
                         << exit(FatalError);
@@ -1021,7 +1003,7 @@ void Foam::argList::parse
                 Pstream::commsTypes::scheduled,
                 Pstream::masterNo()
             );
-            toMaster << string(Foam::FOAMbuild) << hostName() << pid();
+            toMaster << string(foamVersion::build) << hostName() << pid();
         }
     }
 
@@ -1623,7 +1605,7 @@ void Foam::argList::printUsage(bool full) const
     printNotes();
 
     Info<< nl;
-    printBuildInfo();
+    foamVersion::printBuildInfo(true);
     Info<< endl;
 }
 
@@ -1771,7 +1753,12 @@ void Foam::argList::displayDoc(bool source) const
 
     CStringList command(stringOps::splitSpace(docBrowser));
 
-    Info<<"OpenFOAM-" << Foam::FOAMversion << " documentation:" << nl
+    Info
+        << "OpenFOAM"
+        #if OPENFOAM
+        << ' ' << OPENFOAM
+        #endif
+        << " documentation:" << nl
         << "    " << command << nl << endl;
 
     Foam::system(command, true);
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/etcFiles/etcFiles.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/etcFiles/etcFiles.C
index 448bf64f27..e174f36f5d 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/etcFiles/etcFiles.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/etcFiles/etcFiles.C
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ Foam::fileNameList searchEtc
     // User resource directories
     if (userResourceDir(dir))
     {
-        candidate = dir/Foam::FOAMversion/name;
+        candidate = dir/foamVersion::version/name;
         if (accept(candidate))
         {
             list.append(std::move(candidate));
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ Foam::fileNameList searchEtc
     // Group resource directories
     if (groupResourceDir(dir))
     {
-        candidate = dir/Foam::FOAMversion/name;
+        candidate = dir/foamVersion::version/name;
         if (accept(candidate))
         {
             list.append(std::move(candidate));
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/global.Cver b/src/OpenFOAM/global/global.Cver
index 552dc011cc..177f809c55 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/global.Cver
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/global.Cver
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  |
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2018 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ Description
 
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 #include "foamVersion.H"
 #include "endian.H"
 #include "label.H"
@@ -39,11 +38,11 @@ Description
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Data Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-const char* const Foam::FOAMversion = "VERSION_STRING";
-const char* const Foam::FOAMbuild = "BUILD_STRING";
+const char* const Foam::foamVersion::version = "VERSION_STRING";
+const char* const Foam::foamVersion::build = "BUILD_STRING";
 
 // Information about machine endian, label and scalar sizes
-const std::string Foam::FOAMbuildArch =
+const std::string Foam::foamVersion::buildArch
 (
 #ifdef WM_LITTLE_ENDIAN
     "LSB"
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/profiling/profilingSysInfo.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/profiling/profilingSysInfo.C
index 166f23e813..125abecc50 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/profiling/profilingSysInfo.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/profiling/profilingSysInfo.C
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ License
 #include "Ostream.H"
 #include "OSspecific.H"
 
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Member Functions * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 // file-scope function
@@ -59,8 +58,8 @@ Foam::Ostream& Foam::profilingSysInfo::write
     os.writeEntry("date",       Foam::clock::dateTime());
 
     // compile-time information
-    os.writeEntry("version",    std::string(FOAMversion));
-    os.writeEntry("build",      std::string(FOAMbuild));
+    os.writeEntry("version",    std::string(foamVersion::version));
+    os.writeEntry("build",      std::string(foamVersion::build));
 
     printEnv(os, "arch",         "WM_ARCH");
     printEnv(os, "compilerType", "WM_COMPILER_TYPE");
diff --git a/applications/test/foamVersion/Test-foamVersionString.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/version/foamVersion.C
similarity index 62%
rename from applications/test/foamVersion/Test-foamVersionString.C
rename to src/OpenFOAM/global/version/foamVersion.C
index d9050004c6..6356eb357b 100644
--- a/applications/test/foamVersion/Test-foamVersionString.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/version/foamVersion.C
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
+/*-------------------------------*- C++ -*-----------------------------------*\
   =========                 |
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
-    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2018 OpenCFD Ltd.
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -21,27 +21,30 @@ License
     You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
     along with OpenFOAM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-Application
-    foamVersionString.C
-
-Description
-    Print the OpenFOAM version strings.
-
-    Simultaneously the smallest possible program to use a minimal bit of
-    the OpenFOAM library
-
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
-#include <iostream>
 #include "foamVersion.H"
+#include "messageStream.H"
 
-int main()
+// Static data members are constructed in global.Cver
+
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+void Foam::foamVersion::printBuildInfo(const bool full)
 {
-    std::cout
-        << "version " << Foam::FOAMversion << "\n"
-        << "build   " << Foam::FOAMbuild << "\n";
+    Info<<"Using: OpenFOAM-" << foamVersion::version
+        << " (see www.OpenFOAM.com)" << nl
+        << "Build: " << foamVersion::build
+        #if OPENFOAM
+        << " (OPENFOAM=" << OPENFOAM << ')'
+        #endif
+        << nl;
 
-    return 0;
+    if (full)
+    {
+        Info<< "Arch:  " << foamVersion::buildArch.c_str() << nl;
+    }
 }
 
+
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/foamVersion.H b/src/OpenFOAM/global/version/foamVersion.H
similarity index 64%
rename from src/OpenFOAM/global/foamVersion.H
rename to src/OpenFOAM/global/version/foamVersion.H
index e85cc06bfa..099e045ffc 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/foamVersion.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/version/foamVersion.H
@@ -21,24 +21,11 @@ License
     You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
     along with OpenFOAM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-Global
-    Foam::FOAMversion
+Namespace
+    Foam::foamVersion
 
 Description
-    OpenFOAM version number as a static string.
-
-Global
-    Foam::FOAMbuild
-
-Description
-    OpenFOAM build information as a static string
-
-Global
-    Foam::FOAMbuildArch
-
-Description
-    OpenFOAM build architecture information (endian, label/scalar sizes)
-    as a static string
+    Namespace for OpenFOAM version information
 
 Note
     Compile-time version information is conveyed by the \b OPENFOAM define
@@ -48,6 +35,7 @@ Note
     The OPENFOAM_PLUS define was last used for 1712.
 
 SourceFiles
+    foamVersion.C
     global.Cver
 
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -65,13 +53,41 @@ SourceFiles
 
 namespace Foam
 {
-    extern const char* const FOAMversion;
-    extern const char* const FOAMbuild;
-    extern const std::string FOAMbuildArch;
+    //- Version information
+    namespace foamVersion
+    {
+        //- OpenFOAM version (number or name) as a static c-string.
+        extern const char* const version;
+
+        //- OpenFOAM build information as a static c-string
+        extern const char* const build;
+
+        //- OpenFOAM build architecture information
+        //- (machine endian, label/scalar sizes) as a static std::string
+        extern const std::string buildArch;
+
+        //- Print information about version, build, arch to Info
+        //
+        //  \verbatim
+        //  Using: OpenFOAM-<VERSION> (see www.OpenFOAM.com)
+        //  Build: <BUILD> (OPENFOAM=<API_LEVEL>)
+        //  Arch:  "<ARCH_INFO>"
+        //  \endverbatim
+        //
+        //  \param full includes Arch information
+        void printBuildInfo(const bool full=true);
+    }
 }
 
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+// Compatibility names (1806 and earlier)
+
+#define FOAMversion     foamVersion::version
+#define FOAMbuild       foamVersion::build
+#define FOAMbuildArch   foamVersion::buildArch
+
 #endif
 
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightGeoFile.C b/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightGeoFile.C
index c84e91dc1c..473585b5db 100644
--- a/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightGeoFile.C
+++ b/src/fileFormats/ensight/file/ensightGeoFile.C
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ void Foam::ensightGeoFile::initialize()
     #if OPENFOAM
     write("Written by OpenFOAM-" STRING_QUOTE(OPENFOAM));
     #else
-    write(string("Written by OpenFOAM-" + string(Foam::FOAMversion)));
+    write(string("Written by OpenFOAM-" + string(foamVersion::version)));
     #endif
     newline();
 
diff --git a/src/fileFormats/sampledSetWriters/ensight/ensightSetWriter.C b/src/fileFormats/sampledSetWriters/ensight/ensightSetWriter.C
index 7152b21dbd..1d88d286dc 100644
--- a/src/fileFormats/sampledSetWriters/ensight/ensightSetWriter.C
+++ b/src/fileFormats/sampledSetWriters/ensight/ensightSetWriter.C
@@ -106,12 +106,12 @@ void Foam::ensightSetWriter<Type>::write
 
     // Write .mesh file
     {
-        string desc = string("written by OpenFOAM-") + Foam::FOAMversion;
+        string desc("Written by OpenFOAM-" + string(foamVersion::version));
         OFstream os(meshFile);
         os.setf(ios_base::scientific, ios_base::floatfield);
         os.precision(5);
 
-        os  << "EnSight Geometry File" << nl
+        os  << "Ensight Geometry File" << nl
             << desc.c_str() << nl
             << "node id assign" << nl
             << "element id assign" << nl
@@ -223,11 +223,11 @@ void Foam::ensightSetWriter<Type>::write
 
     // Write .mesh file
     {
-        string desc = string("written by OpenFOAM-") + Foam::FOAMversion;
+        string desc("Written by OpenFOAM-" + string(foamVersion::version));
         OFstream os(meshFile);
         os.setf(ios_base::scientific, ios_base::floatfield);
         os.precision(5);
-        os  << "EnSight Geometry File" << nl
+        os  << "Ensight Geometry File" << nl
             << desc.c_str() << nl
             << "node id assign" << nl
             << "element id assign" << nl;