diff --git a/DDRec/include/DDRec/Surface.h b/DDRec/include/DDRec/Surface.h
index 1a4441e8895dbe38502a2be0a2e9bef240e9a197..a7c10f18d2970a78bff1ca56655fc78a4d5c283c 100644
--- a/DDRec/include/DDRec/Surface.h
+++ b/DDRec/include/DDRec/Surface.h
@@ -551,6 +551,9 @@ namespace dd4hep {
       /// The VolSurface attched to the volume.
       VolSurface volSurface() const { return _volSurf ; }
 
+      /// The DetElement belonging to the surface volume
+      DetElement detElement() const { return _det; }
+
 
       //==== geometry ====