diff --git a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTopology.C b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTopology.C
index ac924136e1..2596ae6150 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTopology.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTopology.C
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ Foam::label Foam::checkTopology
         {
             Info<< "    Number of regions: " << rs.nRegions() << " (OK)."
                 << endl;
-        
+
         }
         else
         {
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ Foam::label Foam::checkTopology
                 const pointField& pts = pp.points();
                 const labelList& mp = pp.meshPoints();
 
-                boundBox bb(vector::zero, vector::zero);
+                boundBox bb;   // zero-sized
                 if (returnReduce(mp.size(), sumOp<label>()) > 0)
                 {
                     bb.min() = pts[mp[0]];
diff --git a/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructParMesh/reconstructParMesh.C b/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructParMesh/reconstructParMesh.C
index 834b75dfe6..87b134f6e9 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructParMesh/reconstructParMesh.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructParMesh/reconstructParMesh.C
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ autoPtr<mapPolyMesh> mergeSharedPoints
         }
     }
 
-    return map;    
+    return map;
 }
 
 
@@ -418,11 +418,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     // Read point on individual processors to determine merge tolerance
     // (otherwise single cell domains might give problems)
 
-    boundBox bb
-    (
-        point(GREAT, GREAT, GREAT),
-        point(-GREAT, -GREAT, -GREAT)
-    );
+    boundBox bb = boundBox::invertedBox;
 
     for (label procI = 0; procI < nProcs; procI++)
     {
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/boundBox/boundBox.C b/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/boundBox/boundBox.C
index ef85d72f62..e9bda62da5 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/boundBox/boundBox.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/boundBox/boundBox.C
@@ -27,24 +27,40 @@ License
 #include "boundBox.H"
 #include "PstreamReduceOps.H"
 
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Static Data Members * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+const Foam::boundBox Foam::boundBox::greatBox
+(
+    point(-VGREAT, -VGREAT, -VGREAT),
+    point(VGREAT, VGREAT, VGREAT)
+);
+
+
+const Foam::boundBox Foam::boundBox::invertedBox
+(
+    point(VGREAT, VGREAT, VGREAT),
+    point(-VGREAT, -VGREAT, -VGREAT)
+);
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 Foam::boundBox::boundBox(const pointField& points, const bool doReduce)
 :
-    min_(vector::zero),
-    max_(vector::zero)
+    min_(point::zero),
+    max_(point::zero)
 {
     if (points.size() == 0)
     {
         if (Pstream::parRun() && doReduce)
         {
-            // Use values which get overwritten by reduce minOp,maxOp below
+            // Use values that get overwritten by reduce minOp, maxOp below
             min_ = point(VGREAT, VGREAT, VGREAT);
             max_ = point(-VGREAT, -VGREAT, -VGREAT);
         }
         else
         {
-            WarningIn("boundBox::boundBox(const pointField& points)")
+            WarningIn("boundBox::boundBox(const pointField&)")
                 << "Cannot find bounding box for zero sized pointField, "
                    "returning zero"
                 << endl;
@@ -98,7 +114,6 @@ Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<(Ostream& os, const boundBox& bb)
 
     // Check state of Ostream
     os.check("Ostream& operator<<(Ostream&, const boundBox&)");
-
     return os;
 }
 
@@ -120,7 +135,6 @@ Foam::Istream& Foam::operator>>(Istream& is, boundBox& bb)
 
     // Check state of Istream
     is.check("Istream& operator>>(Istream&, boundBox&)");
-
     return is;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/boundBox/boundBox.H b/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/boundBox/boundBox.H
index 1493c0fe2f..4887e99715 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/boundBox/boundBox.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/meshes/boundBox/boundBox.H
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Ostream& operator<<(Ostream& os, const boundBox& b);
 
 
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
-                           Class boundBox Declaration
+                         Class boundBox Declaration
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
 class boundBox
@@ -61,13 +61,22 @@ class boundBox
 
 public:
 
+    // Static data members
+
+        //- A very large boundBox: min/max == -/+ VGREAT
+        static const boundBox greatBox;
+
+        //- A very large inverted boundBox: min/max == +/- VGREAT
+        static const boundBox invertedBox;
+
+
     // Constructors
 
-        //- Construct null setting points to zero
+        //- Construct null, setting points to zero
         boundBox()
         :
-            min_(vector::zero),
-            max_(vector::zero)
+            min_(point::zero),
+            max_(point::zero)
         {}
 
         //- Construct from components
@@ -77,8 +86,8 @@ public:
             max_(max)
         {}
 
-        //- Construct as the bounding box of the given pointField. Does
-        //  parallel communication (doReduce = true)
+        //- Construct as the bounding box of the given pointField.
+        //  Does parallel communication (doReduce = true)
         boundBox(const pointField& points, const bool doReduce = true);
 
         //- Construct from Istream
@@ -117,39 +126,26 @@ public:
 
         // Query
 
-            //- Intersects other boundingbox?
+            //- Intersects other boundingBox?
             bool overlaps(const boundBox& bb) const
             {
-                if
+                return
                 (
-                    (min_.x() <= bb.max().x()) &&
-                    (min_.y() <= bb.max().y()) &&
-                    (min_.z() <= bb.max().z()) &&
-
-                    (max_.x() >= bb.min().x()) &&
-                    (max_.y() >= bb.min().y()) &&
-                    (max_.z() >= bb.min().z())
-                )
-                {
-                    return true;
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    return false;
-                }
+                    min_.x() <= bb.max().x() && max_.x() >= bb.min().x()
+                 && min_.y() <= bb.max().y() && max_.y() >= bb.min().y()
+                 && min_.z() <= bb.max().z() && max_.z() >= bb.min().z()
+                );
             }
 
-
             //- Contains a point?
             bool contains(const point& pt) const
             {
                 return
-                    pt.x() >= min().x()
-                 && pt.y() >= min().y()
-                 && pt.z() >= min().z()
-                 && pt.x() <= max().x()
-                 && pt.y() <= max().y()
-                 && pt.z() <= max().z();
+                (
+                    pt.x() >= min().x() && pt.x() <= max().x()
+                 && pt.y() >= min().y() && pt.y() <= max().y()
+                 && pt.z() >= min().z() && pt.z() <= max().z()
+                );
             }
 
 
@@ -173,7 +169,7 @@ public:
 };
 
 
-//- Specify data associated with boundBox type is contiguous
+//- Specify data associated with boundBox type are contiguous
 template<>
 inline bool contiguous<boundBox>() {return contiguous<point>();}
 
diff --git a/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/autoHexMeshDriver.C b/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/autoHexMeshDriver.C
index 950e1a3145..e4267a26e3 100644
--- a/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/autoHexMeshDriver.C
+++ b/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/autoHexMeshDriver/autoHexMeshDriver.C
@@ -96,11 +96,7 @@ Foam::scalar Foam::autoHexMeshDriver::getMergeDistance(const scalar mergeTol)
 //)
 //{
 //    // Determine outside point.
-//    boundBox overallBb
-//    (
-//        point(GREAT, GREAT, GREAT),
-//        point(-GREAT, -GREAT, -GREAT)
-//    );
+//    boundBox overallBb = boundBox::invertedBox;
 //
 //    bool hasSurface = false;
 //
diff --git a/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/shellSurfaces/shellSurfaces.C b/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/shellSurfaces/shellSurfaces.C
index 1a577acecb..27740816ac 100644
--- a/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/shellSurfaces/shellSurfaces.C
+++ b/src/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/shellSurfaces/shellSurfaces.C
@@ -158,11 +158,7 @@ void Foam::shellSurfaces::setAndCheckLevels
 void Foam::shellSurfaces::orient()
 {
     // Determine outside point.
-    boundBox overallBb
-    (
-        point(GREAT, GREAT, GREAT),
-        point(-GREAT, -GREAT, -GREAT)
-    );
+    boundBox overallBb = boundBox::invertedBox;
 
     bool hasSurface = false;
 
diff --git a/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBox.C b/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBox.C
index 1c67e72a7e..38367eb74c 100644
--- a/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBox.C
+++ b/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBox.C
@@ -110,8 +110,10 @@ Foam::treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox(const UList<point>& points)
 {
     if (points.size() == 0)
     {
-        WarningIn("treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox(const UList<point>&)")
-            << "cannot find bounding box for zero sized pointField"
+        WarningIn
+        (
+            "treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox(const UList<point>&)"
+        )   << "cannot find bounding box for zero-sized pointField"
             << "returning zero" << endl;
 
         return;
@@ -132,17 +134,18 @@ Foam::treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox(const UList<point>& points)
 Foam::treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox
 (
     const UList<point>& points,
-    const labelList& meshPoints
+    const UList<label>& meshPoints
 )
 :
     boundBox()
 {
-    if (meshPoints.size() == 0)
+    if (points.size() == 0 || meshPoints.size() == 0)
     {
         WarningIn
         (
-            "treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox(const UList<point>&, const labelList)"
-        )   << "cannot find bounding box for zero sized pointField"
+            "treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox"
+            "(const UList<point>&, const UList<label>&)"
+        )   << "cannot find bounding box for zero-sized pointField"
             << "returning zero" << endl;
 
         return;
diff --git a/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBox.H b/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBox.H
index 926b2f3336..ce3372146b 100644
--- a/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBox.H
+++ b/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBox.H
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ public:
 
     // Static data members
 
+        //- As per boundBox::greatBox, but with GREAT instead of VGREAT
         static const treeBoundBox greatBox;
 
         //- Bits used for octant/point coding. Every octant/corner point
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ public:
         treeBoundBox(const UList<point>& points);
 
         //- Construct as subset of points
-        treeBoundBox(const UList<point>&, const labelList& meshPoints);
+        treeBoundBox(const UList<point>&, const UList<label>& meshPoints);
 
         //- Construct from Istream
         treeBoundBox(Istream&);
diff --git a/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBoxI.H b/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBoxI.H
index 36143fedf1..4961fe4018 100644
--- a/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBoxI.H
+++ b/src/meshTools/octree/treeBoundBoxI.H
@@ -27,29 +27,21 @@ License
 #include "treeBoundBox.H"
 #include "Random.H"
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-namespace Foam
-{
-
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Constructors  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-// Construct null setting points to zero
-inline treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox()
+inline Foam::treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox()
 :
     boundBox()
 {}
 
 
-// Construct from components
-inline treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox(const point& min, const point& max)
+inline Foam::treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox(const point& min, const point& max)
 :
     boundBox(min, max)
 {}
 
 
-// Construct from components
-inline treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox(const boundBox& bb)
+inline Foam::treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox(const boundBox& bb)
 :
     boundBox(bb)
 {}
@@ -57,7 +49,7 @@ inline treeBoundBox::treeBoundBox(const boundBox& bb)
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-inline scalar treeBoundBox::minDim() const
+inline Foam::scalar Foam::treeBoundBox::minDim() const
 {
     return ::Foam::min
     (
@@ -71,7 +63,7 @@ inline scalar treeBoundBox::minDim() const
 }
 
 
-inline scalar treeBoundBox::maxDim() const
+inline Foam::scalar Foam::treeBoundBox::maxDim() const
 {
     return ::Foam::max
     (
@@ -85,7 +77,7 @@ inline scalar treeBoundBox::maxDim() const
 }
 
 
-inline scalar treeBoundBox::avgDim() const
+inline Foam::scalar Foam::treeBoundBox::avgDim() const
 {
     return
     (
@@ -96,19 +88,19 @@ inline scalar treeBoundBox::avgDim() const
 }
 
 
-inline scalar treeBoundBox::typDim() const
+inline Foam::scalar Foam::treeBoundBox::typDim() const
 {
     return avgDim();
 }
 
 
-inline point treeBoundBox::mid() const
+inline Foam::point Foam::treeBoundBox::mid() const
 {
     return 0.5*(min() + max());
 }
 
 
-inline point treeBoundBox::corner(const direction octant) const
+inline Foam::point Foam::treeBoundBox::corner(const direction octant) const
 {
     return point
     (
@@ -119,7 +111,7 @@ inline point treeBoundBox::corner(const direction octant) const
 }
 
 // Returns octant in which sample resides. Reverse of subBbox.
-inline direction treeBoundBox::subOctant(const point& sample) const
+inline Foam::direction Foam::treeBoundBox::subOctant(const point& sample) const
 {
     point mid = 0.5*(max() + min());
 
@@ -146,7 +138,7 @@ inline direction treeBoundBox::subOctant(const point& sample) const
 
 // Returns octant in which sample resides. Reverse of subBbox. Precalculated
 // midpoint
-inline direction treeBoundBox::subOctant
+inline Foam::direction Foam::treeBoundBox::subOctant
 (
     const point& mid,
     const point& sample
@@ -175,8 +167,11 @@ inline direction treeBoundBox::subOctant
 
 // Returns octant in which sample resides. Reverse of subBbox. Flags sample
 // exactly on edge.
-inline direction treeBoundBox::subOctant(const point& sample, bool& onEdge)
- const
+inline Foam::direction Foam::treeBoundBox::subOctant
+(
+    const point& sample,
+    bool& onEdge
+) const
 {
     point mid = 0.5*(max() + min());
 
@@ -216,7 +211,7 @@ inline direction treeBoundBox::subOctant(const point& sample, bool& onEdge)
 
 // Returns octant in which sample resides. Reverse of subBbox. Precalculated
 // midpoint
-inline direction treeBoundBox::subOctant
+inline Foam::direction Foam::treeBoundBox::subOctant
 (
     const point& mid,
     const point& sample,
@@ -261,7 +256,7 @@ inline direction treeBoundBox::subOctant
 // Precalculated midpoint. If the sample is on the dividing line between
 // the octants the direction vector determines which octant to use
 // (i.e. in which octant the sample would be if it were moved along dir)
-inline direction treeBoundBox::subOctant
+inline Foam::direction Foam::treeBoundBox::subOctant
 (
     const point& mid,
     const vector& dir,
@@ -319,9 +314,9 @@ inline direction treeBoundBox::subOctant
 }
 
 
-// Returns reference to octantOrder which defines the 
+// Returns reference to octantOrder which defines the
 // order to do the search.
-inline void treeBoundBox::searchOrder
+inline void Foam::treeBoundBox::searchOrder
 (
     const point& sample,
     FixedList<direction,8>& octantOrder
@@ -380,7 +375,7 @@ inline void treeBoundBox::searchOrder
 	{
 	    min = treeBoundBox::FRONTHALF;
 	    mid = treeBoundBox::TOPHALF;
-	    max = treeBoundBox::RIGHTHALF;	    
+	    max = treeBoundBox::RIGHTHALF;
 	}
 	else if( dist.x() < dist.z())
 	{
@@ -412,13 +407,13 @@ inline void treeBoundBox::searchOrder
 
 // true if bb's intersect or overlap.
 // Note: <= to make sure we catch all.
-inline bool treeBoundBox::overlaps(const treeBoundBox& bb) const
+inline bool Foam::treeBoundBox::overlaps(const treeBoundBox& bb) const
 {
     return boundBox::overlaps(bb);
 }
 
 
-inline bool treeBoundBox::contains(const point& sample) const
+inline bool Foam::treeBoundBox::contains(const point& sample) const
 {
     return
     (
@@ -433,7 +428,11 @@ inline bool treeBoundBox::contains(const point& sample) const
 
 
 //- Return slightly wider bounding box
-inline treeBoundBox treeBoundBox::extend(Random& rndGen, const scalar s) const
+inline Foam::treeBoundBox Foam::treeBoundBox::extend
+(
+    Random& rndGen,
+    const scalar s
+) const
 {
     treeBoundBox bb(*this);
 
@@ -456,6 +455,4 @@ inline treeBoundBox treeBoundBox::extend(Random& rndGen, const scalar s) const
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
-} // End namespace Foam
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/meshTools/searchableSurface/distributedTriSurfaceMesh.C b/src/meshTools/searchableSurface/distributedTriSurfaceMesh.C
index a3e499bd65..2a5a86604f 100644
--- a/src/meshTools/searchableSurface/distributedTriSurfaceMesh.C
+++ b/src/meshTools/searchableSurface/distributedTriSurfaceMesh.C
@@ -776,8 +776,7 @@ void Foam::distributedTriSurfaceMesh::calcBounds
     pointIsUsed = 0U;
 
     nPoints = 0;
-    bb.min() = point(VGREAT, VGREAT, VGREAT);
-    bb.max() = point(-VGREAT, -VGREAT, -VGREAT);
+    bb = boundBox::invertedBox;
 
     const triSurface& s = static_cast<const triSurface&>(*this);
 
@@ -2123,7 +2122,7 @@ void Foam::distributedTriSurfaceMesh::distribute
            }
         }
     }
-    
+
 
     faceMap.reset
     (
diff --git a/src/triSurface/triSurface/triSurface.C b/src/triSurface/triSurface/triSurface.C
index 64adb1bc74..833fcfde27 100644
--- a/src/triSurface/triSurface/triSurface.C
+++ b/src/triSurface/triSurface/triSurface.C
@@ -1213,11 +1213,7 @@ void Foam::triSurface::writeStats(Ostream& os) const
     pointIsUsed = 0U;
 
     label nPoints = 0;
-    boundBox bb
-    (
-        point(VGREAT, VGREAT, VGREAT),
-        point(-VGREAT, -VGREAT, -VGREAT)
-    );
+    boundBox bb = boundBox::invertedBox;
 
     forAll(*this, triI)
     {