diff --git a/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/filmSubModelBase.C b/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/filmSubModelBase.C
index c205882dad..bb2b9753fe 100644
--- a/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/filmSubModelBase.C
+++ b/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/filmSubModelBase.C
@@ -91,6 +91,14 @@ filmSubModelBase::~filmSubModelBase()
 {}
 
 
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+bool filmSubModelBase::outputTime() const
+{
+    return active() && owner_.time().outputTime();
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 } // End namespace surfaceFilmModels
diff --git a/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/filmSubModelBase.H b/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/filmSubModelBase.H
index 9b9a66cff8..41d9f29d98 100644
--- a/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/filmSubModelBase.H
+++ b/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/filmSubModelBase.H
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ public:
 
         // Access
 
+            //- Flag to indicate when to write a property
+            virtual bool outputTime() const;
+
             //- Return the reference to the owner surface film model
             inline const surfaceFilmModel& owner() const;