diff --git a/DDCore/include/XML/XMLDetector.h b/DDCore/include/XML/XMLDetector.h
index 09a060cafb0ad5fc22cb49c7e7dea7e8818a7219..f836eb9c22051478ccc9f23e30f39315438b8d08 100644
--- a/DDCore/include/XML/XMLDetector.h
+++ b/DDCore/include/XML/XMLDetector.h
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ namespace DD4hep {
       std::string materialStr() const;
       /// Check if component is sensitive
       bool isSensitive() const;
+      
+      /// Check if component is a radiator (absorber)
+      bool isRadiator() const;
+      
       /// Create a shape using the plugin mechanism from an XML element
       NamedObject* createShape() const;
     };
diff --git a/DDCore/src/XML/XMLDetector.cpp b/DDCore/src/XML/XMLDetector.cpp
index ae050898b6684745678addbab0f29e5a9f32e204..338addc091f72bcf95c2627dc527c6ea8a5187d9 100644
--- a/DDCore/src/XML/XMLDetector.cpp
+++ b/DDCore/src/XML/XMLDetector.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ bool Component::isSensitive() const {
   return val == 'T' || val == 'Y';
 }
 
+bool Component::isRadiator() const {
+  char val = m_element.hasAttr(_U(radiator)) ? m_element.attr < string > (_U(radiator))[0] : 'f';
+  val = ::toupper(val);
+  return val == 'T' || val == 'Y';
+}
+
 DD4hep::NamedObject* Component::createShape() const {
   using namespace DD4hep::Geometry;
   Dimension child_dim(m_element);
diff --git a/DDRec/include/DDRec/DetectorData.h b/DDRec/include/DDRec/DetectorData.h
index 21f8e7c9d9f706295c289bbbe80acc51a0953598..ae519b3c6dad79dfe52affc72e1614571c341cfc 100644
--- a/DDRec/include/DDRec/DetectorData.h
+++ b/DDRec/include/DDRec/DetectorData.h
@@ -295,8 +295,25 @@ namespace DD4hep {
        */
       int inner_symmetry ;
 
+      /// inner azimuthal angle of the first module in barrel layout
+      double  inner_phi0  ;
+      
+      /// outer azimuthal angle of the first module in barrel layout
+      double  outer_phi0  ;
+      
       /// azimuthal angle of the first module in barrel layout
+      /// DEPRECATED! PLEASE POPULATE INNER/OUTER PHI0 INSTEAD
       double  phi0  ;
+      
+      /// Gap between modules(eg. stave gap) in the phi-direction
+      double gap0;
+      
+      /// Gap between modules(eg. middle stave gap) in the z-direction
+      double gap1;
+      
+      /// Gap between modules(reserved for future use) e.g in the r-direction
+      double gap2;
+      
 
       struct Layer {
 	/// distance from Origin (or the z-axis)
diff --git a/doc/release.notes b/doc/release.notes
index 180e4d111124b8c4a09577a1d4544d18552e60f3..b207f198c78e0e858af12654bdad27054fb00d85 100644
--- a/doc/release.notes
+++ b/doc/release.notes
@@ -3,7 +3,22 @@
 DD4hep  ----  Release Notes
 =================================
 
-
+2015/07/02 Nikiforos Nikiforou
+------------------------------
+
+ - Added isRadiator() helper function in DDCore/XML/XMLDetector.h/cpp 
+   Mirroring functionality of isSensitive() and used in geometry drivers
+   e.g. to calculate total absorber thickness
+
+ - Extended LayeredCalorimeterStruct in DDRec/DetectorData.h to include 
+   additional parameters required by Pandora:
+   	      inner_phi0 (e.g. alignment for inner symmetry)
+	      outer_phi0 (e.g  aligment for outer symmetry)
+	      NOTE: phi0 still remains but is deprecated
+	      gap0 (e.g stave gap along r-phi)  
+	      gap1 (e.g middle stave gap along z)
+	      gap2 (reserved for future use)
+	      
  --------
 | v00-12 |  
  --------