diff --git a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvertTesting/surfaceMeshConvertTesting.C b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvertTesting/surfaceMeshConvertTesting.C
index dfd2d5f2cc..d2b887c3e8 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvertTesting/surfaceMeshConvertTesting.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvertTesting/surfaceMeshConvertTesting.C
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2015 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  |
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ Note
 #include "MeshedSurfaces.H"
 #include "UnsortedMeshedSurfaces.H"
 
+#include "IStringStream.H"
+#include "OStringStream.H"
+
 using namespace Foam;
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
@@ -84,11 +87,33 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     argList::validArgs.append("outputFile");
 
     argList::addBoolOption("clean");
-    argList::addBoolOption("orient");
-    argList::addBoolOption("surfMesh");
+    argList::addBoolOption
+    (
+        "orient",
+        "check surface orientation"
+    );
+    argList::addBoolOption
+    (
+        "surfMesh",
+        "test surfMesh output"
+    );
     argList::addBoolOption("triSurface");
-    argList::addBoolOption("unsorted");
-    argList::addBoolOption("triFace");
+    argList::addBoolOption
+    (
+        "unsorted",
+        "use UnsortedMeshedSurface instead of MeshedSurface, "
+        "or unsorted output (with -triSurface option)"
+    );
+    argList::addBoolOption
+    (
+        "triFace",
+        "use triFace instead of face"
+    );
+    argList::addBoolOption
+    (
+        "stdout",
+        "ignore output filename and write to stdout"
+    );
 
     argList::addOption
     (
@@ -99,10 +124,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     #include "setRootCase.H"
 
+    const bool     optStdout = args.optionFound("stdout");
     const scalar scaleFactor = args.optionLookupOrDefault("scale", 0.0);
 
     const fileName importName = args[1];
-    const fileName exportName = args[2];
+    const fileName exportName = optStdout ? "-stdout" : args[2];
 
     if (importName == exportName)
     {
@@ -114,7 +140,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if
     (
         !MeshedSurface<face>::canRead(importName, true)
-     || !MeshedSurface<face>::canWriteType(exportName.ext(), true)
+     ||
+        (
+            !optStdout
+         && !MeshedSurface<face>::canWriteType(exportName.ext(), true)
+        )
     )
     {
         return 1;
@@ -128,6 +158,19 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         surf.writeStats(Info);
         Info<< endl;
 
+        // check: output to ostream, construct from istream
+        {
+            OStringStream os;
+            os << surf;
+            IStringStream is(os.str());
+
+            triSurface surf2(is);
+
+            // is.rewind();
+            // is >> surf2;    // FAIL: uses List<labelledTri> base class
+            // surf2.read(is); // FAIL: private method
+        }
+
         if (args.optionFound("orient"))
         {
             Info<< "Checking surface orientation" << endl;
@@ -156,8 +199,15 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             Info<< endl;
         }
 
-        // write sorted by region
-        surf.write(exportName, true);
+        if (optStdout)
+        {
+            Info<< surf;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // normally write sorted (looks nicer)
+            surf.write(exportName, !args.optionFound("unsorted"));
+        }
     }
     else if (args.optionFound("unsorted"))
     {
@@ -167,6 +217,23 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         surf.writeStats(Info);
         Info<< endl;
 
+        // check: output to ostream, construct from istream
+        {
+            OStringStream os;
+            os << surf;
+            IStringStream is(os.str());
+
+            // both work:
+            UnsortedMeshedSurface<face> surf2(is);
+
+            // OR
+            // is.rewind();
+            // UnsortedMeshedSurface<face> surf2;
+            // is >> surf2;
+
+            // surf2.read(is);  // FAIL: private method
+        }
+
         if (args.optionFound("orient"))
         {
             Info<< "Checking surface orientation" << endl;
@@ -194,9 +261,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             surf.writeStats(Info);
             Info<< endl;
         }
-        surf.write(exportName);
+
+        if (optStdout)
+        {
+            Info<< surf;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            surf.write(exportName);
+        }
     }
-#if 1
     else if (args.optionFound("triFace"))
     {
         MeshedSurface<triFace> surf(importName);
@@ -205,6 +279,23 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         surf.writeStats(Info);
         Info<< endl;
 
+        // check: output to ostream, construct from istream
+        {
+            OStringStream os;
+            os << surf;
+            IStringStream is(os.str());
+
+            // both work:
+            MeshedSurface<face> surf2(is);
+
+            // OR
+            // is.rewind();
+            // MeshedSurface<face> surf2;
+            // is >> surf2;
+
+            // surf2.read(is);  // FAIL: private method
+        }
+
         if (args.optionFound("orient"))
         {
             Info<< "Checking surface orientation" << endl;
@@ -232,9 +323,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             surf.writeStats(Info);
             Info<< endl;
         }
-        surf.write(exportName);
+
+        if (optStdout)
+        {
+            Info<< surf;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            surf.write(exportName);
+        }
     }
-#endif
     else
     {
         MeshedSurface<face> surf(importName);
@@ -243,6 +341,23 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         surf.writeStats(Info);
         Info<< endl;
 
+        // check: output to ostream, construct from istream
+        {
+            OStringStream os;
+            os << surf;
+            IStringStream is(os.str());
+
+            // both work:
+            MeshedSurface<face> surf2(is);
+
+            // OR
+            // is.rewind();
+            // MeshedSurface<face> surf2;
+            // is >> surf2;
+
+            // surf2.read(is);  // FAIL: private method
+        }
+
         if (args.optionFound("orient"))
         {
             Info<< "Checking surface orientation" << endl;
@@ -258,7 +373,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             Info<< endl;
         }
 
-
         Info<< "writing " << exportName;
         if (scaleFactor <= 0)
         {
@@ -271,7 +385,15 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             surf.writeStats(Info);
             Info<< endl;
         }
-        surf.write(exportName);
+
+        if (optStdout)
+        {
+            Info<< surf;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            surf.write(exportName);
+        }
 
         if (args.optionFound("surfMesh"))
         {
@@ -287,7 +409,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             Info<< "runTime.instance() = " << runTime.instance() << endl;
             Info<< "runTime.timeName() = " << runTime.timeName() << endl;
 
-
             Info<< "write MeshedSurface 'yetAnother' via proxy as surfMesh"
                 << endl;
             surf.write
@@ -312,14 +433,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             MeshedSurface<face> surfIn2(runTime, "foobar");
 
             Info<<"surfIn2 = " << surfIn2.size() << endl;
-
             Info<< "surfIn = " << surfIn.size() << endl;
 
-
             Info<< "writing surfMesh as obj = oldSurfIn.obj" << endl;
             surfIn.write("oldSurfIn.obj");
 
-
             Info<< "runTime.instance() = " << runTime.instance() << endl;
 
             surfMesh surfOut
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.C b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.C
index 6eebe1a080..aec8e446a5 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.C
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  |
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -343,7 +343,10 @@ Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::MeshedSurface
 
 
 template<class Face>
-Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::MeshedSurface(const fileName& name)
+Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::MeshedSurface
+(
+    const fileName& name
+)
 :
     ParentType(List<Face>(), pointField())
 {
@@ -351,6 +354,19 @@ Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::MeshedSurface(const fileName& name)
 }
 
 
+template<class Face>
+Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::MeshedSurface
+(
+    Istream& is
+)
+:
+    ParentType(List<Face>(), pointField()),
+    zones_()
+{
+    read(is);
+}
+
+
 template<class Face>
 Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::MeshedSurface
 (
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.H b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.H
index e3d99ca999..1362197d8c 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurface.H
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  |
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -69,11 +69,18 @@ namespace Foam
 class Time;
 class surfMesh;
 class polyBoundaryMesh;
+class Istream;
+class Ostream;
 
 template<class Face> class MeshedSurface;
 template<class Face> class MeshedSurfaceProxy;
 template<class Face> class UnsortedMeshedSurface;
 
+template<class Face>
+Istream& operator>>(Istream&, MeshedSurface<Face>&);
+template<class Face>
+Ostream& operator<<(Ostream&, const MeshedSurface<Face>&);
+
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
                       Class MeshedSurface Declaration
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -84,7 +91,7 @@ class MeshedSurface
     public PrimitivePatch<Face, ::Foam::List, pointField, point>,
     public fileFormats::surfaceFormatsCore
 {
-    // friends - despite different face representationsx
+    // friends - despite different face representations
     template<class Face2> friend class MeshedSurface;
     template<class Face2> friend class UnsortedMeshedSurface;
     friend class surfMesh;
@@ -114,6 +121,15 @@ private:
         List<surfZone> zones_;
 
 
+    // Private Member functions
+
+        //- Read/construct from Istream
+        Istream& read(Istream&);
+
+        //- Write to Ostream
+        Ostream& write(Ostream&) const;
+
+
 protected:
 
     // Protected Member functions
@@ -133,7 +149,7 @@ protected:
         //- Non-const access to the faces
         List<Face>& storedFaces()
         {
-            return static_cast<List<Face> &>(*this);
+            return static_cast<List<Face>&>(*this);
         }
 
         //- Non-const access to the zones
@@ -234,8 +250,15 @@ public:
         //- Construct from file name (uses extension to determine type)
         MeshedSurface(const fileName&, const word& ext);
 
+        //- Construct from Istream
+        MeshedSurface(Istream&);
+
         //- Construct from database
-        MeshedSurface(const Time&, const word& surfName="");
+        MeshedSurface
+        (
+            const Time&,
+            const word& surfName = word::null
+        );
 
 
     // Declare run-time constructor selection table
@@ -285,7 +308,11 @@ public:
         );
 
         //- Write to file
-        static void write(const fileName&, const MeshedSurface<Face>&);
+        static void write
+        (
+            const fileName&,
+            const MeshedSurface<Face>&
+        );
 
 
     // Member Functions
@@ -301,7 +328,7 @@ public:
             //- Return const access to the faces
             inline const List<Face>& faces() const
             {
-                return static_cast<const List<Face> &>(*this);
+                return static_cast<const List<Face>&>(*this);
             }
 
             //- Const access to the surface zones.
@@ -353,7 +380,7 @@ public:
             //  Note, optimized to avoid overwriting data (with Xfer::null)
             virtual void reset
             (
-                const Xfer<pointField >& points,
+                const Xfer<pointField>& points,
                 const Xfer<List<Face>>& faces,
                 const Xfer<surfZoneList>& zones
             );
@@ -364,7 +391,7 @@ public:
             (
                 const Xfer<List<point>>& points,
                 const Xfer<List<Face>>& faces,
-                const Xfer<surfZoneList >& zones
+                const Xfer<surfZoneList>& zones
             );
 
             //- Remove invalid faces
@@ -435,7 +462,11 @@ public:
             }
 
             //- Write to database
-            void write(const Time&, const word& surfName="") const;
+            void write
+            (
+                const Time&,
+                const word& surfName = word::null
+            ) const;
 
 
     // Member operators
@@ -444,6 +475,25 @@ public:
 
         //- Conversion operator to MeshedSurfaceProxy
         operator MeshedSurfaceProxy<Face>() const;
+
+
+    // IOstream Operators
+
+        //- Read MeshedSurface from Istream.
+        friend Istream& operator>> <Face>
+        (
+            Istream&,
+            MeshedSurface<Face>&
+        );
+
+
+        //- Write MeshedSurface to Ostream.
+        friend Ostream& operator<< <Face>
+        (
+            Ostream&,
+            const MeshedSurface<Face>&
+        );
+
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceCore.C b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceCore.C
index 9d579ee590..5e71aa5cbc 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceCore.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceCore.C
@@ -66,12 +66,4 @@ namespace Foam
 }  // end of namespace Foam
 
 
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * Protected Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
-
-// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceIO.C b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceIO.C
index e968872b50..89204c063b 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceIO.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurface/MeshedSurfaceIO.C
@@ -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) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -25,10 +25,35 @@ License
 
 #include "MeshedSurface.H"
 #include "boundBox.H"
+#include "Istream.H"
 #include "Ostream.H"
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+template<class Face>
+Foam::Istream& Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::read(Istream& is)
+{
+    is  >> this->storedZones()
+        >> this->storedPoints()
+        >> this->storedFaces();
+
+    is.check("MeshedSurface::read(Istream&)");
+    return is;
+}
+
+
+template<class Face>
+Foam::Ostream& Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::write(Ostream& os) const
+{
+    os  << this->surfZones()
+        << this->points()
+        << this->faces();
+
+    os.check("MeshedSurface::write(Ostream&) const");
+    return os;
+}
+
+
 template<class Face>
 void Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::writeStats(Ostream& os) const
 {
@@ -64,4 +89,28 @@ void Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>::writeStats(Ostream& os) const
 }
 
 
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * IOstream Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+template<class Face>
+Foam::Istream& Foam::operator>>
+(
+    Foam::Istream& is,
+    Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>& surf
+)
+{
+    return surf.read(is);
+}
+
+
+template<class Face>
+Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<
+(
+    Foam::Ostream& os,
+    const Foam::MeshedSurface<Face>& surf
+)
+{
+    return surf.write(os);
+}
+
+
 // ************************************************************************* //
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurfaceProxy/MeshedSurfaceProxy.H b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurfaceProxy/MeshedSurfaceProxy.H
index 4cc7264a43..9338f7dd68 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurfaceProxy/MeshedSurfaceProxy.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/MeshedSurfaceProxy/MeshedSurfaceProxy.H
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  |
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -128,7 +128,11 @@ public:
         );
 
         //- Write to file
-        static void write(const fileName&, const MeshedSurfaceProxy<Face>&);
+        static void write
+        (
+            const fileName&,
+            const MeshedSurfaceProxy<Face>&
+        );
 
 
     // Member Functions
@@ -176,7 +180,11 @@ public:
             }
 
             //- Write to database
-            virtual void write(const Time&, const word& surfName = "") const;
+            virtual void write
+            (
+                const Time&,
+                const word& surfName = word::null
+            ) const;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.C b/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.C
index 10a973eb05..11d1237e22 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.C
+++ b/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.C
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  |
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -263,7 +263,10 @@ Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::UnsortedMeshedSurface
 
 
 template<class Face>
-Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::UnsortedMeshedSurface(const fileName& name)
+Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::UnsortedMeshedSurface
+(
+    const fileName& name
+)
 :
     ParentType()
 {
@@ -271,6 +274,20 @@ Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::UnsortedMeshedSurface(const fileName& name)
 }
 
 
+template<class Face>
+Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::UnsortedMeshedSurface
+(
+    Istream& is
+)
+:
+    ParentType(),
+    zoneIds_(),
+    zoneToc_()
+{
+    read(is);
+}
+
+
 template<class Face>
 Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::UnsortedMeshedSurface
 (
@@ -422,6 +439,30 @@ void Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::remapFaces
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
+template<class Face>
+Foam::Istream& Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::read(Istream& is)
+{
+    is  >> this->storedZoneIds()
+        >> this->storedPoints()
+        >> this->storedFaces();
+
+    is.check("UnsortedMeshedSurface::read(Istream&)");
+    return is;
+}
+
+
+template<class Face>
+Foam::Ostream& Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::write(Ostream& os) const
+{
+    os  << this->zoneIds()
+        << this->points()
+        << this->faces();
+
+    os.check("UnsortedMeshedSurface::write(Ostream&) const");
+    return os;
+}
+
+
 template<class Face>
 void Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>::setSize(const label s)
 {
@@ -759,6 +800,30 @@ Foam::MeshedSurfaceProxy<Face>() const
 }
 
 
+// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * IOstream Operators  * * * * * * * * * * * * //
+
+template<class Face>
+Foam::Istream& Foam::operator>>
+(
+    Foam::Istream& is,
+    Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>& surf
+)
+{
+    return surf.read(is);
+}
+
+
+template<class Face>
+Foam::Ostream& Foam::operator<<
+(
+    Foam::Ostream& os,
+    const Foam::UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>& surf
+)
+{
+    return surf.write(os);
+}
+
+
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
 
 #include "UnsortedMeshedSurfaceNew.C"
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.H b/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.H
index 52cbddd3bc..443cf1f7bc 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/UnsortedMeshedSurface/UnsortedMeshedSurface.H
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  |
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -62,12 +62,18 @@ namespace Foam
 // Forward declaration of friend functions and operators
 
 class Time;
-class IFstream;
+class Istream;
+class Ostream;
 
 template<class Face> class MeshedSurface;
 template<class Face> class MeshedSurfaceProxy;
 template<class Face> class UnsortedMeshedSurface;
 
+template<class Face>
+Istream& operator>>(Istream&, UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>&);
+template<class Face>
+Ostream& operator<<(Ostream&, const UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>&);
+
 /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*\
                    Class UnsortedMeshedSurface Declaration
 \*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -77,7 +83,7 @@ class UnsortedMeshedSurface
 :
     public MeshedSurface<Face>
 {
-    // friends - despite different face representationsx
+    // friends - despite different face representations
     template<class Face2> friend class MeshedSurface;
     template<class Face2> friend class UnsortedMeshedSurface;
     friend class surfMesh;
@@ -104,11 +110,16 @@ private:
     // Private Member Functions
 
         //- Disable resize with value
-        void resize(const label, const Face&);
+        void resize(const label, const Face&) = delete;
 
         //- Disable setSize with value
-        void setSize(const label, const Face&);
+        void setSize(const label, const Face&) = delete;
 
+        //- Read/construct from Istream
+        Istream& read(Istream&);
+
+        //- Write to Ostream
+        Ostream& write(Ostream&) const;
 
 protected:
 
@@ -199,8 +210,15 @@ public:
         //- Construct from file name (uses extension to determine type)
         UnsortedMeshedSurface(const fileName&, const word&);
 
+        //- Construct from Istream
+        UnsortedMeshedSurface(Istream&);
+
         //- Construct from objectRegistry and a named surface
-        UnsortedMeshedSurface(const Time&, const word& surfName="");
+        UnsortedMeshedSurface
+        (
+            const Time&,
+            const word& surfName = word::null
+        );
 
 
     // Declare run-time constructor selection table
@@ -250,7 +268,11 @@ public:
         );
 
         //- Write to file
-        static void write(const fileName&, const UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>&);
+        static void write
+        (
+            const fileName&,
+            const UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>&
+        );
 
 
     // Member Functions
@@ -363,7 +385,11 @@ public:
             }
 
             //- Write to database
-            void write(const Time&, const word& surfName="") const;
+            void write
+            (
+                const Time&,
+                const word& surfName = word::null
+            ) const;
 
 
         // Member operators
@@ -372,6 +398,24 @@ public:
 
             //- Conversion operator to MeshedSurfaceProxy
             operator MeshedSurfaceProxy<Face>() const;
+
+
+    // IOstream Operators
+
+        //- Read UnsortedMeshedSurface from Istream.
+        friend Istream& operator>> <Face>
+        (
+            Istream&,
+            UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>&
+        );
+
+
+        //- Write UnsortedMeshedSurface to Ostream.
+        friend Ostream& operator<< <Face>
+        (
+            Ostream&,
+            const UnsortedMeshedSurface<Face>&
+        );
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/surfMesh/surfMesh.H b/src/surfMesh/surfMesh/surfMesh.H
index 5388626803..d8bbff5fe4 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/surfMesh/surfMesh.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/surfMesh/surfMesh.H
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  |
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -98,10 +98,10 @@ private:
     // Private Member Functions
 
         //- Disallow construct as copy
-        surfMesh(const surfMesh&);
+        surfMesh(const surfMesh&) = delete;
 
         //- Disallow default bitwise assignment
-        void operator=(const surfMesh&);
+        void operator=(const surfMesh&) = delete;
 
 
 protected:
@@ -155,7 +155,11 @@ public:
     // Constructors
 
         //- Construct from IOobject, with alternative surface name
-        explicit surfMesh(const IOobject&, const word& surfName="");
+        explicit surfMesh
+        (
+            const IOobject&,
+            const word& surfName = word::null
+        );
 
         //- Construct by transferring components (points, faces) without zones.
         //  surfZones are added using addZones() member function
@@ -164,7 +168,7 @@ public:
             const IOobject&,
             const Xfer<pointField>&,
             const Xfer<faceList>&,
-            const word& surfName=""
+            const word& surfName = word::null
         );
 
         //- Construct copy/move from MeshedSurface
@@ -172,7 +176,7 @@ public:
         (
             const IOobject&,
             const Xfer<MeshedSurface<face>>& surf,
-            const word& surfName=""
+            const word& surfName = word::null
         );
 
 
diff --git a/src/surfMesh/surfaceRegistry/surfaceRegistry.H b/src/surfMesh/surfaceRegistry/surfaceRegistry.H
index a55bf46a1f..dd50c91244 100644
--- a/src/surfMesh/surfaceRegistry/surfaceRegistry.H
+++ b/src/surfMesh/surfaceRegistry/surfaceRegistry.H
@@ -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) 2016 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -54,10 +54,10 @@ class surfaceRegistry
     // Private Member Functions
 
         //- Disallow default bitwise copy construct
-        surfaceRegistry(const surfaceRegistry&);
+        surfaceRegistry(const surfaceRegistry&) = delete;
 
         //- Disallow default bitwise assignment
-        void operator=(const surfaceRegistry&);
+        void operator=(const surfaceRegistry&) = delete;
 
 
 public:
@@ -75,7 +75,11 @@ public:
     // Constructors
 
         //- Construct for the given objectRegistry and named surface
-        surfaceRegistry(const objectRegistry&, const word& surfName = "");
+        surfaceRegistry
+        (
+            const objectRegistry&,
+            const word& surfName = word::null
+        );
 
 
     //- Destructor