diff --git a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.C b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.C
index c105fea511..65561dfcb7 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.C
@@ -39,6 +39,43 @@ License
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Data Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+template<class Face>
+Foam::wordHashSet Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::readTypes()
+{
+    wordHashSet known(2*fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_->size());
+
+    forAllIter
+    (
+        typename fileExtensionConstructorTable::iterator,
+        *fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_,
+        iter
+    )
+    {
+        known.insert(iter.key());
+    }
+
+    return known;
+}
+
+
+template<class Face>
+Foam::wordHashSet Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::writeTypes()
+{
+    wordHashSet supported(2*writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_->size());
+
+    forAllIter
+    (
+        typename writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTable::iterator,
+        *writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_,
+        iter
+    )
+    {
+        supported.insert(iter.key());
+    }
+
+    return supported;
+}
+
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Member Functions * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
@@ -55,7 +92,10 @@ bool Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::canReadType
         return true;
     }
 
-    return UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::canReadType(ext, verbose);
+    wordHashSet available = readTypes();
+    available += SiblingType::readTypes();
+
+    return checkSupport(available, ext, verbose, "reading");
 }
 
 
@@ -72,32 +112,7 @@ bool Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::canWriteType
         return true;
     }
 
-    typename writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTable::iterator mfIter =
-        writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_->find(ext);
-
-    if (mfIter == writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_->end())
-    {
-        if (verbose)
-        {
-            SortableList<word> known
-            (
-                writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_->toc()
-            );
-
-            Info<<"Unknown file extension for writing: " << ext << nl;
-            // compact output:
-            Info<<"Valid types: ( " << nativeExt;
-            forAll(known, i)
-            {
-                Info<<" " << known[i];
-            }
-            Info<<" )" << endl;
-        }
-
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    return true;
+    return checkSupport(writeTypes(), ext, verbose, "writing");
 }
 
 
@@ -150,7 +165,7 @@ void Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::write
             "MeshedSurface::write(const fileName&)"
         )   << "Unknown file extension " << ext << nl << nl
             << "Valid types are :" << endl
-            << writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_->toc()
+            << writeTypes()
             << exit(FatalError);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.H b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.H
index 3d00d370c8..e6665a2845 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.H
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ SourceFiles
 #include "surfaceFormatsCore.H"
 #include "runTimeSelectionTables.H"
 #include "memberFunctionSelectionTables.H"
+#include "HashSet.H"
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ private:
 
     //- Private typedefs for convenience
         typedef PrimitiveMeshedSurface<Face> ParentType;
+        typedef UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>  SiblingType;
 
     // Private Member Data
 
@@ -92,12 +94,6 @@ private:
 
     // Private member functions
 
-        //- set a single patch
-        void onePatch();
-
-        //- basic sanity check on patches
-        void checkPatches();
-
         //- Sort faces by regionIds and set patches
         void sortFacesByRegion(const UList<label>&, const Map<word>&);
 
@@ -107,6 +103,16 @@ private:
         //- Read OpenFOAM Surface format
         bool read(Istream&);
 
+protected:
+
+    // Protected Member functions
+
+        //- set a single patch
+        void onePatch();
+
+        //- basic sanity check on patches
+        void checkPatches();
+
 public:
 
         //- Runtime type information
@@ -123,6 +129,8 @@ public:
         //- Can we write this file format?
         static bool canWriteType(const word& ext, const bool verbose=false);
 
+        static wordHashSet readTypes();
+        static wordHashSet writeTypes();
 
     // Constructors
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceNew.C b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceNew.C
index 4dbfe34464..07d2110f2d 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceNew.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceNew.C
@@ -45,11 +45,38 @@ Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::New
             << endl;
     }
 
-    // created indirectly via UnsortedMeshedSurface
-    autoPtr<MeshedSurface<Face> > surf(new MeshedSurface<Face>);
-    surf().transfer( UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::New(fName,ext)() );
+    typename fileExtensionConstructorTable::iterator cstrIter =
+        fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_->find(ext);
 
-    return surf;
+    if (cstrIter == fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_->end())
+    {
+        // no direct reader, delegate if possible
+        wordHashSet supported = SiblingType::readTypes();
+        if (supported.found(ext))
+        {
+            // create indirectly
+            autoPtr<MeshedSurface<Face> > surf(new MeshedSurface<Face>);
+            surf().transfer(SiblingType::New(fName, ext)());
+
+            return surf;
+        }
+
+        // nothing left to try, issue error
+        supported += readTypes();
+        supported.insert(nativeExt);
+
+        FatalErrorIn
+        (
+            "MeshedSurface<Face>::New"
+            "(const fileName&, const word&) : "
+            "constructing UnsortedMeshedSurface"
+        )   << "Unknown file extension " << ext << nl << nl
+            << "Valid types are :" << nl
+            << supported
+            << exit(FatalError);
+    }
+
+    return autoPtr<MeshedSurface<Face> >(cstrIter()(fName));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.C b/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.C
index 62a1f661d6..2804d867db 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.C
@@ -39,6 +39,44 @@ License
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Member Functions * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+template<class Face>
+Foam::wordHashSet Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::readTypes()
+{
+    wordHashSet supported(2*fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_->size());
+
+    forAllIter
+    (
+        typename fileExtensionConstructorTable::iterator,
+        *fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_,
+        iter
+    )
+    {
+        supported.insert(iter.key());
+    }
+
+    return supported;
+}
+
+
+template<class Face>
+Foam::wordHashSet Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::writeTypes()
+{
+    wordHashSet supported(2*writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_->size());
+
+    forAllIter
+    (
+        typename writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTable::iterator,
+        *writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_,
+        iter
+    )
+    {
+        supported.insert(iter.key());
+    }
+
+    return supported;
+}
+
+
 template<class Face>
 bool Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::canReadType
 (
@@ -52,32 +90,10 @@ bool Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::canReadType
         return true;
     }
 
-    typename fileExtensionConstructorTable::iterator cstrIter =
-        fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_->find(ext);
+    wordHashSet available = readTypes();
+    available += SiblingType::readTypes();;
 
-    // would be nice to have information about which format this actually is
-    if (cstrIter == fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_->end())
-    {
-        if (verbose)
-        {
-            SortableList<word> known
-            (
-                fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_->toc()
-            );
-
-            Info<<"Unknown file extension for reading: " << ext << nl;
-            // compact output:
-            Info<<"Valid types: ( " << nativeExt;
-            forAll(known, i)
-            {
-                Info<<" " << known[i];
-            }
-            Info<<" )" << endl;
-        }
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    return true;
+    return checkSupport(available, ext, verbose, "reading");
 }
 
 
@@ -94,32 +110,7 @@ bool Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::canWriteType
         return true;
     }
 
-    typename writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTable::iterator mfIter =
-        writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_->find(ext);
-
-    if (mfIter == writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_->end())
-    {
-        if (verbose)
-        {
-            SortableList<word> known
-            (
-                writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_->toc()
-            );
-
-            Info<<"Unknown file extension for writing: " << ext << nl;
-            // compact output:
-            Info<<"Valid types: ( " << nativeExt;
-            forAll(known, i)
-            {
-                Info<<" " << known[i];
-            }
-            Info<<" )" << endl;
-        }
-
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    return true;
+    return checkSupport(writeTypes(), ext, verbose, "writing");
 }
 
 
@@ -173,7 +164,7 @@ void Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::write
             "(const fileName&, const UnsortedMeshedSurface&)"
         )   << "Unknown file extension " << ext << nl << nl
             << "Valid types are :" << endl
-            << writefileExtensionMemberFunctionTablePtr_->toc()
+            << writeTypes()
             << exit(FatalError);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.H b/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.H
index 5f42dbdecc..1d1722d97f 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.H
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ SourceFiles
 #include "surfaceFormatsCore.H"
 #include "runTimeSelectionTables.H"
 #include "memberFunctionSelectionTables.H"
+#include "HashSet.H"
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ template<class Face>
 
 
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
-                      Class UnsortedMeshedSurface Declaration
+                   Class UnsortedMeshedSurface Declaration
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
 template<class Face>
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ private:
 
     //- Typedefs for convenience
         typedef PrimitiveMeshedSurface<Face> ParentType;
+        typedef MeshedSurface<Face> SiblingType;
 
         //- Typedef for type holding the region (patch) informationm
         typedef surfPatchIdentifier PatchRegionType;
@@ -157,6 +159,9 @@ public:
         //- Can we write this file format?
         static bool canWriteType(const word& ext, const bool verbose=false);
 
+        static wordHashSet readTypes();
+        static wordHashSet writeTypes();
+
     // Constructors
 
         //- Construct null
@@ -325,7 +330,7 @@ public:
         //  Returns true if any points merged
         virtual bool stitchFaces
         (
-            const scalar tol=SMALL, 
+            const scalar tol=SMALL,
             const bool verbose=false
         );
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurfaceNew.C b/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurfaceNew.C
index c65a114431..9df2077fb5 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurfaceNew.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurfaceNew.C
@@ -50,6 +50,24 @@ Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::New
 
     if (cstrIter == fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_->end())
     {
+        // no direct reader, delegate if possible
+        wordHashSet supported = SiblingType::readTypes();
+        if (supported.found(ext))
+        {
+            // create indirectly
+            autoPtr<UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face> > surf
+            (
+                new UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>
+            );
+            surf().transfer(SiblingType::New(fName, ext)());
+
+            return surf;
+        }
+
+        // nothing left but to issue an error
+        supported += readTypes();
+        supported.insert(nativeExt);
+
         FatalErrorIn
         (
             "UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::New"
@@ -57,14 +75,11 @@ Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::New
             "constructing UnsortedMeshedSurface"
         )   << "Unknown file extension " << ext << nl << nl
             << "Valid types are :" << nl
-            << fileExtensionConstructorTablePtr_->toc()
+            << supported
             << exit(FatalError);
     }
 
-    return autoPtr<UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face> >
-    (
-        cstrIter()(fName)
-    );
+    return autoPtr<UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face> >(cstrIter()(fName));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/nas/NASsurfaceFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/nas/NASsurfaceFormat.C
index 95d6a1dfa1..a393ca92c1 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/nas/NASsurfaceFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/nas/NASsurfaceFormat.C
@@ -257,21 +257,10 @@ bool Foam::fileFormats::NASsurfaceFormat<Face>::read
 
             if (mustTriangulate)
             {
-                triFace fTri;
-
-                // simple face triangulation about f[0].
-                // cannot use face::triangulation since points are incomplete
-                fTri[0] = f[0];
-                for (label fp1 = 1; fp1 < f.size() - 1; fp1++)
-                {
-                    label fp2 = (fp1 + 1) % f.size();
-
-                    fTri[1] = f[fp1];
-                    fTri[2] = f[fp2];
-
-                    faceLst.append(fTri);
-                    regionLst.append(patchI);
-                }
+                faceLst.append(triFace(f[0], f[1], f[2]));
+                faceLst.append(triFace(f[0], f[2], f[3]));
+                regionLst.append(patchI);
+                regionLst.append(patchI);
             }
             else
             {
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormat.C
index ddf1e6be53..16ae9a7f3a 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormat.C
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ bool Foam::fileFormats::OFFsurfaceFormat<Face>::read
 
 
     // get dimensions
-    label nPoints, nEdges, nElems;
+    label nPoints, nElems, nEdges;
 
     string line = this->getLineNoComment(is);
     {
@@ -105,9 +105,10 @@ bool Foam::fileFormats::OFFsurfaceFormat<Face>::read
     // use a DynamicList for possible on-the-fly triangulation
     DynamicList<Face>  faceLst(nElems);
 
-    forAll(faceLst, faceI)
+    for (label faceI = 0; faceI < nElems; ++faceI)
     {
         line = this->getLineNoComment(is);
+
         {
             IStringStream lineStream(line);
 
@@ -128,7 +129,6 @@ bool Foam::fileFormats::OFFsurfaceFormat<Face>::read
                 triFace fTri;
 
                 // simple face triangulation about f[0].
-                // cannot use face::triangulation since points are incomplete
                 fTri[0] = f[0];
                 for (label fp1 = 1; fp1 < f.size() - 1; fp1++)
                 {
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormat.H b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormat.H
index 9e9ce00a4d..1f31e1c48b 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormat.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormat.H
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ namespace fileFormats
 template<class Face>
 class OFFsurfaceFormat
 :
-    public UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>,
+    public MeshedSurface<Face>,
     public OFFsurfaceFormatCore
 {
     // Private Member Functions
@@ -95,12 +95,12 @@ public:
     // Selectors
 
         //- Read file and return surface
-        static autoPtr<UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face> > New
+        static autoPtr<MeshedSurface<Face> > New
         (
             const fileName& fName
         )
         {
-            return autoPtr<UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face> >
+            return autoPtr<MeshedSurface<Face> >
             (
                 new OFFsurfaceFormat(fName)
             );
@@ -115,6 +115,23 @@ public:
         //- Read from file
         virtual bool read(const fileName&);
 
+        //- Write MeshedSurface
+        static void write
+        (
+            Ostream&,
+            const MeshedSurface<Face>&
+        );
+
+        //- Write MeshedSurface
+        static void write
+        (
+            const fileName& fName,
+            const MeshedSurface<Face>& surf
+        )
+        {
+            write(OFstream(fName)(), surf);
+        }
+
         //- Write UnsortedMeshedSurface
         //  The output is sorted by region.
         static void write
@@ -134,23 +151,6 @@ public:
             write(OFstream(fName)(), surf);
         }
 
-        //- Write MeshedSurface
-        static void write
-        (
-            Ostream&,
-            const MeshedSurface<Face>&
-        );
-
-        //- Write MeshedSurface
-        static void write
-        (
-            const fileName& fName,
-            const MeshedSurface<Face>& surf
-        )
-        {
-            write(OFstream(fName)(), surf);
-        }
-
         //- Write object
         virtual void write(Ostream& os) const
         {
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormatRunTime.C b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormatRunTime.C
index 40b92b244f..0d4551999b 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormatRunTime.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/off/OFFsurfaceFormatRunTime.C
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ namespace fileFormats
 
 addNamedTemplatedToRunTimeSelectionTable
 (
-    UnsortedMeshedSurface,
+    MeshedSurface,
     OFFsurfaceFormat,
     face,
     fileExtension,
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ addNamedTemplatedToRunTimeSelectionTable
 );
 addNamedTemplatedToRunTimeSelectionTable
 (
-    UnsortedMeshedSurface,
+    MeshedSurface,
     OFFsurfaceFormat,
     triFace,
     fileExtension,
@@ -54,26 +54,6 @@ addNamedTemplatedToRunTimeSelectionTable
 );
 
 
-addNamedTemplatedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
-(
-    UnsortedMeshedSurface,
-    OFFsurfaceFormat,
-    face,
-    write,
-    fileExtension,
-    off
-);
-addNamedTemplatedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
-(
-    UnsortedMeshedSurface,
-    OFFsurfaceFormat,
-    triFace,
-    write,
-    fileExtension,
-    off
-);
-
-
 addNamedTemplatedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
 (
     MeshedSurface,
@@ -93,6 +73,26 @@ addNamedTemplatedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
     off
 );
 
+
+addNamedTemplatedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
+(
+    UnsortedMeshedSurface,
+    OFFsurfaceFormat,
+    face,
+    write,
+    fileExtension,
+    off
+);
+addNamedTemplatedToMemberFunctionSelectionTable
+(
+    UnsortedMeshedSurface,
+    OFFsurfaceFormat,
+    triFace,
+    write,
+    fileExtension,
+    off
+);
+
 }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/surfaceFormatsCore.C b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/surfaceFormatsCore.C
index d76a9b71ec..49d1d8fda1 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/surfaceFormatsCore.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/surfaceFormatsCore.C
@@ -250,6 +250,40 @@ Foam::fileFormats::surfaceFormatsCore::sortedPatchRegions
 }
 
 
+bool
+Foam::fileFormats::surfaceFormatsCore::checkSupport
+(
+    const wordHashSet& available,
+    const word& ext,
+    const bool verbose,
+    const word& functionName
+)
+{
+
+    if (available.found(ext))
+    {
+        return true;
+    }
+    else if (verbose)
+    {
+        wordList toc = available.toc();
+        SortableList<word> known(xferMove(toc));
+
+        Info<<"Unknown file extension for " << functionName
+            << " : " << ext << nl
+            <<"Valid types: ( " << nativeExt;
+        // compact output:
+        forAll(known, i)
+        {
+            Info<<" " << known[i];
+        }
+        Info<<" )" << endl;
+    }
+
+    return false;
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::fileFormats::surfaceFormatsCore::surfaceFormatsCore()
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/surfaceFormatsCore.H b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/surfaceFormatsCore.H
index f8c9d0f812..12ba0838c5 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/surfaceFormatsCore.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/surfaceFormatsCore.H
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ SourceFiles
 #include "surfGroupList.H"
 #include "labelList.H"
 #include "Map.H"
+#include "HashSet.H"
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
@@ -99,6 +100,14 @@ public:
             labelList& faceMap
         );
 
+        static bool checkSupport
+        (
+            const wordHashSet& available,
+            const word& ext,
+            const bool verbose,
+            const word& functionName
+        );
+
     // Constructors
 
         //- Construct null
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/tri/TRIsurfaceFormat.C b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/tri/TRIsurfaceFormat.C
index 1cdd8ca1b0..25c83c82f5 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/tri/TRIsurfaceFormat.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/surfaceFormats/tri/TRIsurfaceFormat.C
@@ -190,13 +190,8 @@ bool Foam::fileFormats::TRIsurfaceFormat<Face>::read
     label ptI = 0;
     forAll(faceLst, faceI)
     {
-        triFace fTri;
-
-        fTri[0] = ptI++;
-        fTri[1] = ptI++;
-        fTri[2] = ptI++;
-
-        faceLst[faceI] = fTri;
+        const label startPt = 3 * faceI;
+        faceLst[faceI] = triFace(startPt, startPt+1, startPt+2);
     }
 
     this->setPatches(groupToPatch);