diff --git a/src/AdvancedEngine/AdvancedEngine_IOperations.cxx b/src/AdvancedEngine/AdvancedEngine_IOperations.cxx
index 097a1b265..8241109eb 100644
--- a/src/AdvancedEngine/AdvancedEngine_IOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/AdvancedEngine/AdvancedEngine_IOperations.cxx
@@ -1552,9 +1552,8 @@ bool AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapePartition(Handle(GEOM_Object) the
     TopoDS_Shape aShape = Te3->GetValue();
     theShape->GetLastFunction()->SetValue(aShape);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -1963,9 +1962,8 @@ Handle(TColStd_HSequenceOfTransient)
       aFunction->SetValue(aResShape);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1987,9 +1985,8 @@ Handle(TColStd_HSequenceOfTransient)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2125,9 +2122,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeWithPosition
       aFunction->SetValue(aResShape);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2158,9 +2154,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeWithPosition
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2268,9 +2263,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeChamfer
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2321,9 +2315,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeChamfer
   try {
     aChamfer = myLocalOperations->MakeChamferEdges(aShape, theW, theH, theEdges);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
   if (aChamfer.IsNull()) {
@@ -2357,9 +2350,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeChamfer
       aFunction->SetValue(aResShape);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2381,9 +2373,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeChamfer
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2503,9 +2494,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeChamferWithPosition
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2554,9 +2544,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeChamferWithPosition
   try {
     aChamfer = myLocalOperations->MakeChamferEdges(aShape, theW, theH, theEdges);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
   if (aChamfer.IsNull()) {
@@ -2590,9 +2579,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeChamferWithPosition
       aFunction->SetValue(aResShape);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2620,9 +2608,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeChamferWithPosition
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2728,9 +2715,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeFillet
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2780,9 +2766,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeFillet
   try {
     aFillet = myLocalOperations->MakeFilletEdges(aShape, theRF, theEdges);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
   if (aFillet.IsNull()) {
@@ -2842,9 +2827,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeFillet
       aFunction->SetValue(aResShape);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2866,9 +2850,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeFillet
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2985,9 +2968,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeFilletWithPosition
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -3037,9 +3019,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeFilletWithPosition
   try {
     aFillet = myLocalOperations->MakeFilletEdges(aShape, theRF, theEdges);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
   if (aFillet.IsNull()) {
@@ -3098,9 +3079,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeFilletWithPosition
       aFunction->SetValue(aResShape);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -3128,9 +3108,8 @@ AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakePipeTShapeFilletWithPosition
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -3224,9 +3203,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakeDividedDisk (double theR, do
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
   
@@ -3299,9 +3277,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakeDividedDiskPntVecR (Handle(G
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
   
@@ -3425,9 +3402,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) AdvancedEngine_IOperations::MakeSmoothingSurface (std::list<
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/BREPPlugin/BREPPlugin_IOperations.cxx b/src/BREPPlugin/BREPPlugin_IOperations.cxx
index 43f72dac5..589d93759 100644
--- a/src/BREPPlugin/BREPPlugin_IOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/BREPPlugin/BREPPlugin_IOperations.cxx
@@ -96,9 +96,8 @@ void BREPPlugin_IOperations::ExportBREP( const Handle(GEOM_Object)      theOrigi
       return;
     }
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode( aFail->GetMessageString() );
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    SetErrorCode( aFail.GetMessageString() );
     return;
   }
 
@@ -152,9 +151,8 @@ BREPPlugin_IOperations::ImportBREP( const TCollection_AsciiString& theFileName )
     // Greate material groups.
     // MakeMaterialGroups( anImported, aSeq );
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode( aFail->GetMessageString() );
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    SetErrorCode( aFail.GetMessageString() );
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOM/GEOM_Engine.cxx b/src/GEOM/GEOM_Engine.cxx
index a6c169018..90faf13fe 100644
--- a/src/GEOM/GEOM_Engine.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOM/GEOM_Engine.cxx
@@ -440,9 +440,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOM_Engine::AddSubShape(Handle(GEOM_Object)              th
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    MESSAGE("GEOM_Engine::AddSubShape Error: " << aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    MESSAGE("GEOM_Engine::AddSubShape Error: " << aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOM/GEOM_Function.cxx b/src/GEOM/GEOM_Function.cxx
index 0f64bd555..92b3ff769 100644
--- a/src/GEOM/GEOM_Function.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOM/GEOM_Function.cxx
@@ -248,9 +248,8 @@ TopoDS_Shape GEOM_Function::GetValue()
           return aShape;
         }
       }
-      catch (Standard_Failure) {
-        Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-        MESSAGE("GEOM_Function::GetValue Error: " << aFail->GetMessageString());
+      catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+        MESSAGE("GEOM_Function::GetValue Error: " << aFail.GetMessageString());
         return aShape;
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations.cxx
index 0a1a786b7..41a288f8b 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations.cxx
@@ -135,9 +135,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeBoxDXDYDZ (double theDX, dou
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -190,9 +189,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeBoxTwoPnt (Handle(GEOM_Objec
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -239,9 +237,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeFaceHW (double theH, double
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -294,9 +291,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeFaceObjHW (Handle(GEOM_Objec
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -350,9 +346,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeDiskPntVecR
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -408,9 +403,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeDiskThreePnt (Handle(GEOM_Ob
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -456,9 +450,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeDiskR (double theR, int theO
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -502,9 +495,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeCylinderRH (double theR, dou
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -549,9 +541,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeCylinderRHA (double theR, do
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -607,9 +598,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeCylinderPntVecRH (Handle(GEO
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -666,9 +656,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeCylinderPntVecRHA (Handle(GE
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -716,9 +705,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeConeR1R2H (double theR1, dou
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -777,9 +765,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeConePntVecR1R2H (Handle(GEOM
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -823,9 +810,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeSphereR (double theR)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -876,9 +862,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeSpherePntR (Handle(GEOM_Obje
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -925,9 +910,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeTorusRR
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -983,9 +967,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeTorusPntVecRR
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1043,9 +1026,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakePrismVecH (Handle(GEOM_Objec
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1105,9 +1087,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakePrismVecH2Ways (Handle(GEOM_
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1166,9 +1147,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakePrismTwoPnt
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1229,9 +1209,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakePrismTwoPnt2Ways
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1287,9 +1266,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakePrismDXDYDZ
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1348,9 +1326,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakePrismDXDYDZ2Ways
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1421,9 +1398,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeDraftPrism
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
   
@@ -1491,9 +1467,8 @@ Handle(TColStd_HSequenceOfTransient) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakePipe
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1568,9 +1543,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeRevolutionAxisAngle (Handle(
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1624,9 +1598,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeRevolutionAxisAngle2Ways
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1684,12 +1657,11 @@ GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeFilling (std::list< Handle(GEOM_Object)> & theCo
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    if (strcmp(aFail->GetMessageString(), "Geom_BSplineSurface") == 0)
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    if (strcmp(aFail.GetMessageString(), "Geom_BSplineSurface") == 0)
       SetErrorCode("B-Spline surface construction failed");
     else
-      SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+      SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1781,9 +1753,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeThruSections(
       return anObj;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return anObj;
   }
 
@@ -1911,9 +1882,8 @@ Handle(TColStd_HSequenceOfTransient)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2097,9 +2067,8 @@ Handle(TColStd_HSequenceOfTransient)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2263,9 +2232,8 @@ Handle(TColStd_HSequenceOfTransient)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2377,9 +2345,8 @@ Handle(TColStd_HSequenceOfTransient)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2464,9 +2431,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::MakeThickening
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2549,8 +2515,7 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::RestorePath (Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
     SetErrorCode("RestorePath: inappropriate arguments given");
     return NULL;
   }
@@ -2639,8 +2604,7 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_I3DPrimOperations::RestorePath
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
     SetErrorCode("RestorePath: inappropriate arguments given");
     return NULL;
   }
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations.cxx
index 2817ef568..8e14834ac 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations.cxx
@@ -109,9 +109,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakePointXYZ
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -162,9 +161,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakePointWithReference
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -265,9 +263,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::makePointOnGeom
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -426,9 +423,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakePointOnLinesIntersection
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -477,9 +473,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakeTangentOnCurve
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -526,9 +521,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakeVectorDXDYDZ
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -579,9 +573,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakeVectorTwoPnt
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -633,9 +626,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakeLine
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -686,9 +678,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakeLineTwoPnt
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -739,9 +730,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakeLineTwoFaces
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -796,9 +786,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakePlaneThreePnt
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -851,9 +840,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakePlanePntVec
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -903,9 +891,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakePlaneFace
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -958,9 +945,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakePlane2Vec
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1010,9 +996,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakePlaneLCS
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1062,9 +1047,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakeMarker
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1114,9 +1098,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakeMarkerFromShape
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1169,9 +1152,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakeMarkerPntTwoVec
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1226,9 +1208,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBasicOperations::MakeTangentPlaneOnFace(const Hand
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations.cxx
index 111f7dc69..f4362361f 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations.cxx
@@ -313,9 +313,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::MakeQuad
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -369,9 +368,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::MakeQuad2Edges
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -432,9 +430,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::MakeQuad4Vertices
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -502,9 +499,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::MakeHexa
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -559,9 +555,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::MakeHexa2Faces
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -613,9 +608,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::MakeBlockCompound
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -863,9 +857,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetEdge
       anArray->SetValue(1, anIndices.FindIndex(anEdge));
       aResult = GetEngine()->AddSubShape(theShape, anArray);
     }
-  } catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  } catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -924,9 +917,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetEdgeNearPoint
     anArray->SetValue(1, anIndices.FindIndex(aShape));
     aResult = GetEngine()->AddSubShape(theShape, anArray);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1065,9 +1057,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetFaceByPoints
       aResult = GetEngine()->AddSubShape(theShape, anArray);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1188,9 +1179,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetFaceByEdges
       aResult = GetEngine()->AddSubShape(theShape, anArray);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1256,9 +1246,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetOppositeFace
     anArray->SetValue(1, anIndices.FindIndex(aShape));
     aResult = GetEngine()->AddSubShape(theShape, anArray);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1446,9 +1435,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetFaceNearPoint
       aResult = GetEngine()->AddSubShape(theShape, anArray);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1574,9 +1562,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetFaceByNormale
       aResult = GetEngine()->AddSubShape(theShape, anArray);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1699,9 +1686,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetShapesNearPoint
       aResult = GetEngine()->AddSubShape(theShape, anArray);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1767,9 +1753,8 @@ Standard_Boolean GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::IsCompoundOfBlocks
       }
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return isCompOfBlocks;
   }
 
@@ -2449,9 +2434,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::RemoveExtraEdges
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2500,9 +2484,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::UnionFaces
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2554,9 +2537,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::CheckAndImprove
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2626,9 +2608,8 @@ Handle(TColStd_HSequenceOfTransient) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::ExplodeCompound
       }
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return aBlocks;
   }
 
@@ -2811,9 +2792,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetBlockNearPoint
       aResult = GetEngine()->AddSubShape(theCompound, anArray);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2926,9 +2906,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetBlockByParts
       anArray->SetValue(1, anIndices.FindIndex(aShape));
       aResult = GetEngine()->AddSubShape(theCompound, anArray);
     }
-  } catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  } catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -3052,9 +3031,8 @@ Handle(TColStd_HSequenceOfTransient) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::GetBlocksByPart
       }
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -3112,9 +3090,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::MakeMultiTransformation1D
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -3174,9 +3151,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBlocksOperations::MakeMultiTransformation2D
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations.cxx
index 8e950aa14..7da07e48d 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations.cxx
@@ -118,9 +118,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations::MakeBoolean
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -191,9 +190,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations::MakeFuse
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -254,9 +252,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations::MakeFuseList
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -314,9 +311,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations::MakeCommonList
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -385,9 +381,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations::MakeCutList
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -510,9 +505,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations::MakePartition
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -591,9 +585,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IBooleanOperations::MakeHalfPartition
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations.cxx
index 89dc6cf0d..d25a5f216 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations.cxx
@@ -242,9 +242,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeCircleThreePnt (Handle(GEOM_
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -300,9 +299,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeCircleCenter2Pnt (Handle(GEO
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -363,9 +361,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeCirclePntVecR
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -436,9 +433,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeEllipse
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -501,9 +497,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeArc (Handle(GEOM_Object) the
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -560,9 +555,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeArcCenter (Handle(GEOM_Objec
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
   //Make a Python command
@@ -617,9 +611,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeArcOfEllipse (Handle(GEOM_Ob
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -679,9 +672,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakePolyline (std::list<Handle(G
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -748,9 +740,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeSplineBezier
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -818,9 +809,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeSplineInterpolation
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -895,9 +885,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeSplineInterpolWithTangents
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1144,9 +1133,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeCurveParametric
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1211,9 +1199,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeSketcher (const char* theCom
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1273,9 +1260,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeSketcherOnPlane
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1322,9 +1308,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::Make3DSketcherCommand (const cha
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1380,9 +1365,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::Make3DSketcher (std::list<double
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1453,9 +1437,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakeIsoline
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1517,9 +1500,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakePolyline2D
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1594,9 +1576,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ICurvesOperations::MakePolyline2DOnPlane
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations.cxx
index 6a6d99829..328600221 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations.cxx
@@ -144,10 +144,9 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::ShapeProcess (Handle(GEOM_Objec
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure)
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail)
   {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -357,10 +356,9 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::SuppressFaces
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure)
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail)
   {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -426,10 +424,9 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::CloseContour
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure)
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail)
   {
-        Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -494,10 +491,9 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::RemoveIntWires
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure)
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail)
   {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -561,10 +557,9 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::FillHoles (Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure)
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail)
   {
-        Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -636,9 +631,8 @@ GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::Sew (std::list<Handle(GEOM_Object)>& theObjects,
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -703,9 +697,8 @@ GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::RemoveInternalFaces (std::list< Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -762,9 +755,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::DivideEdge (Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -829,9 +821,8 @@ GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::DivideEdgeByPoint (Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -895,9 +886,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::FuseCollinearEdgesWithinWire
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1082,9 +1072,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::ChangeOrientation (Handle(GEOM_
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1153,9 +1142,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::ChangeOrientationCopy (Handle(G
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1213,9 +1201,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IHealingOperations::LimitTolerance (Handle(GEOM_Obj
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IInsertOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IInsertOperations.cxx
index 90acf17a6..578ce9e52 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IInsertOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IInsertOperations.cxx
@@ -128,9 +128,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IInsertOperations::MakeCopy (Handle(GEOM_Object) th
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -396,9 +395,8 @@ bool GEOMImpl_IInsertOperations::TransferData
       return false;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return false;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations.cxx
index 309c2bcc7..d78a1b216 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations.cxx
@@ -119,9 +119,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeFilletAll
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -178,9 +177,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeFilletEdges
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -246,9 +244,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeFilletEdgesR1R2
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -314,9 +311,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeFilletFaces
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -382,9 +378,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeFilletFacesR1R2
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -449,9 +444,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeFillet2D
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -518,9 +512,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeFillet1D
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -577,9 +570,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeChamferAll (Handle(GEOM_Objec
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -632,9 +624,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeChamferEdge
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -688,9 +679,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeChamferEdgeAD
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -749,9 +739,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeChamferFaces
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -818,9 +807,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeChamferFacesAD
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -888,9 +876,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeChamferEdges
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -958,9 +945,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeChamferEdgesAD
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1020,9 +1006,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ILocalOperations::MakeArchimede (Handle(GEOM_Object
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations.cxx
index 8b87bd8cf..a4f76c118 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations.cxx
@@ -785,9 +785,8 @@ void GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetPosition
     aDirZ.Coord(Zx, Zy, Zz);
     aDirX.Coord(Xx, Xy, Xz);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return;
   }
 
@@ -832,9 +831,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetCentreOfMass
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -884,9 +882,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetVertexByIndex
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -941,9 +938,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetNormal
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1003,9 +999,8 @@ void GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetBasicProperties (Handle(GEOM_Object) theSha
       }
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return;
   }
 
@@ -1069,9 +1064,8 @@ void GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetInertia
     GProp_PrincipalProps Pr = System.PrincipalProperties();
     Pr.Moments(Ix,Iy,Iz);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return;
   }
 
@@ -1130,9 +1124,8 @@ void GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetBoundingBox
 
     B.Get(Xmin, Ymin, Zmin, Xmax, Ymax, Zmax);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return;
   }
 
@@ -1179,9 +1172,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetBoundingBox
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1256,9 +1248,8 @@ void GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetTolerance
         VertMin = T;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return;
   }
 
@@ -1299,9 +1290,8 @@ bool GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::CheckShape (Handle(GEOM_Object)     theShape,
       FillErrors(ana, aShape, theErrors);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -1924,9 +1914,8 @@ TCollection_AsciiString GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::WhatIs (Handle(GEOM_Object)
 	Astr = Astr + " SOLID : " + TCollection_AsciiString(nbFlatType[TopAbs_SOLID]) + "\n";
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return Astr;
   }
 
@@ -2097,9 +2086,8 @@ GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetMinDistance (Handle(GEOM_Object) theShape1,
       return MinDist;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return MinDist;
   }
 
@@ -2173,9 +2161,8 @@ Standard_Integer GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::ClosestPoints (Handle(GEOM_Object)
       }
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return nbSolutions;
   }
 
@@ -2216,10 +2203,9 @@ void GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::PointCoordinates (Handle(GEOM_Object) theShape
 
     SetErrorCode(OK);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure)
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail)
   {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode( aFail->GetMessageString() );
+    SetErrorCode( aFail.GetMessageString() );
   }
 }
 
@@ -2289,10 +2275,9 @@ Standard_Real GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetAngle (Handle(GEOM_Object) theLine
 
     SetErrorCode(OK);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure)
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail)
   {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
   }
 
   return anAngle;
@@ -2354,10 +2339,9 @@ Standard_Real GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::GetAngleBtwVectors (Handle(GEOM_Objec
 
     SetErrorCode(OK);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure)
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail)
   {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
   }
 
   return anAngle;
@@ -2400,9 +2384,8 @@ Standard_Real GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::CurveCurvatureByParam
     aRes = fabs(Prop.Curvature());
     SetErrorCode(OK);
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return aRes;
   }
 
@@ -2455,9 +2438,8 @@ Standard_Real GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::CurveCurvatureByPoint
       SetErrorCode(OK);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return aRes;
   }
 
@@ -2507,9 +2489,8 @@ Standard_Real GEOMImpl_IMeasureOperations::getSurfaceCurvatures
       SetErrorCode(OK);
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return aRes;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations.cxx
index 34db98229..fd79eafa1 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations.cxx
@@ -231,9 +231,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeEdge
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -290,9 +289,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeEdgeOnCurveByLength
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -346,9 +344,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeEdgeWire
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -420,9 +417,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeWire
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -485,9 +481,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeFace (Handle(GEOM_Object) th
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     // to provide warning
     if (!aFunction->GetValue().IsNull()) {
       isWarning = Standard_True;
@@ -554,9 +549,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeFaceWires
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     // to provide warning
     if (!aFunction->GetValue().IsNull()) {
       isWarning = Standard_True;
@@ -640,9 +634,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeFaceFromSurface
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -728,9 +721,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeFaceWithConstraints
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     // to provide warning
     if (!aFunction->GetValue().IsNull()) {
       isWarning = Standard_True;
@@ -841,9 +833,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeShape
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -912,9 +903,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeSolidFromConnectedFaces
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -980,9 +970,8 @@ GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeGlueFaces (std::list< Handle(GEOM_Object) >& the
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     // to provide warning
     if (!aFunction->GetValue().IsNull()) {
       isWarning = Standard_True;
@@ -1130,9 +1119,8 @@ GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeGlueFacesByList(std::list< Handle(GEOM_Object) >
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     // to provide warning
     if (!aFunction->GetValue().IsNull()) {
       isWarning = Standard_True;
@@ -1196,9 +1184,8 @@ GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeGlueEdges (std::list< Handle(GEOM_Object) >& the
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     // to provide warning
     if (!aFunction->GetValue().IsNull()) {
       isWarning = Standard_True;
@@ -1378,9 +1365,8 @@ GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeGlueEdgesByList (std::list< Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     // to provide warning
     if (!aFunction->GetValue().IsNull()) {
       isWarning = Standard_True;
@@ -2143,9 +2129,8 @@ Standard_Integer GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::NumberOfSubShapes
         nbShapes = nbTypes[theShapeType];
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return -1;
   }
 
@@ -2191,9 +2176,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::ReverseShape(Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -3233,9 +3217,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeExtraction
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
 
     return NULL;
   }
@@ -3323,9 +3306,8 @@ Handle(TColStd_HSequenceOfInteger)
         VertMax = T;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return aSeqOfIDs;
   }
   // END: Mantis issue 0020961
@@ -5213,9 +5195,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::ExtendEdge
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
 
     return NULL;
   }
@@ -5282,9 +5263,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::ExtendFace
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
 
     return NULL;
   }
@@ -5344,9 +5324,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_IShapesOperations::MakeSurfaceFromFace
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
 
     return NULL;
   }
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations.cxx
index 0a3c2d831..598096391 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations.cxx
@@ -133,9 +133,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::TranslateTwoPoints
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -184,9 +183,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::TranslateDXDYDZ
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -238,9 +236,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::TranslateTwoPointsCopy
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -291,9 +288,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::TranslateDXDYDZCopy
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -344,9 +340,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::TranslateVector
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -395,9 +390,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::TranslateVectorCopy
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -454,9 +448,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::TranslateVectorDistance
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -515,9 +508,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::Translate1D
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -578,9 +570,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::Translate2D (Handle(GEOM_Obje
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -774,9 +765,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::MirrorPlane
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -825,9 +815,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::MirrorPlaneCopy
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -877,9 +866,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::MirrorPoint
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -928,9 +916,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::MirrorPointCopy
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -980,9 +967,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::MirrorAxis
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1031,9 +1017,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::MirrorAxisCopy
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1081,9 +1066,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::OffsetShape
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1133,9 +1117,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::OffsetShapeCopy
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1203,9 +1186,8 @@ GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::ProjectShapeCopy (Handle(GEOM_Object) theSource,
         return NULL;
       }
     }
-    catch (Standard_Failure) {
-      Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-      SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+    catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+      SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
       return NULL;
     }
   }
@@ -1269,9 +1251,8 @@ Standard_Real GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::ProjectPointOnWire
       return aResult;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return aResult;
   }
 
@@ -1331,9 +1312,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::ScaleShape
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1390,9 +1370,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::ScaleShapeCopy
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1459,9 +1438,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::ScaleShapeAlongAxes (Handle(G
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1522,9 +1500,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::PositionShape
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1579,9 +1556,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::PositionShapeCopy
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1639,9 +1615,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::PositionAlongPath
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1700,9 +1675,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::Rotate (Handle(GEOM_Object) t
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1753,9 +1727,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::RotateCopy (Handle(GEOM_Objec
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1807,9 +1780,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::Rotate1D (Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1866,9 +1838,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::Rotate1D (Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1928,9 +1899,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::Rotate2D (Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -1992,9 +1962,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::Rotate2D (Handle(GEOM_Object)
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2053,9 +2022,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::RotateThreePoints (Handle(GEO
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2108,9 +2076,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::RotateThreePointsCopy (Handle
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2252,9 +2219,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::TransformLikeOtherCopy
       return NULL;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return NULL;
   }
 
@@ -2320,9 +2286,8 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOMImpl_ITransformOperations::MakeProjectionOnCylinder
       return aResult;
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode(aFail->GetMessageString());
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    SetErrorCode(aFail.GetMessageString());
     return aResult;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ProjectionDriver.cxx b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ProjectionDriver.cxx
index 966ebc824..5195bb8c8 100644
--- a/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ProjectionDriver.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOMImpl/GEOMImpl_ProjectionDriver.cxx
@@ -220,9 +220,8 @@ Standard_Integer GEOMImpl_ProjectionDriver::Execute(Handle(TFunction_Logbook)& l
 
       try {
         OrtProj.Build();
-      } catch (Standard_Failure) {
-        Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-        TCollection_AsciiString aMsg (aFail->GetMessageString());
+      } catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+        TCollection_AsciiString aMsg (aFail.GetMessageString());
         if (!aMsg.Length())
           aMsg = "Projection aborted : possibly the source shape intersects the cylinder's axis";
         Standard_ConstructionError::Raise(aMsg.ToCString());
diff --git a/src/IGESPlugin/IGESPlugin_IOperations.cxx b/src/IGESPlugin/IGESPlugin_IOperations.cxx
index c53752cf4..d8131444e 100644
--- a/src/IGESPlugin/IGESPlugin_IOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/IGESPlugin/IGESPlugin_IOperations.cxx
@@ -100,9 +100,8 @@ void IGESPlugin_IOperations::ExportIGES( const Handle(GEOM_Object)      theOrigi
       return;
     }
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode( aFail->GetMessageString() );
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    SetErrorCode( aFail.GetMessageString() );
     return;
   }
 
@@ -158,9 +157,8 @@ IGESPlugin_IOperations::ImportIGES( const TCollection_AsciiString& theFileName,
     // Greate material groups.
     // MakeMaterialGroups( anImported, aSeq );
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode( aFail->GetMessageString() );
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    SetErrorCode( aFail.GetMessageString() );
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/IGESPlugin/IGESPlugin_ImportDriver.cxx b/src/IGESPlugin/IGESPlugin_ImportDriver.cxx
index f82173160..d2c20fc89 100644
--- a/src/IGESPlugin/IGESPlugin_ImportDriver.cxx
+++ b/src/IGESPlugin/IGESPlugin_ImportDriver.cxx
@@ -182,9 +182,8 @@ Standard_Integer IGESPlugin_ImportDriver::Execute(Handle(TFunction_Logbook)& log
       aResShape.Nullify();
     }
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    anError = aFail->GetMessageString();
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    anError = aFail.GetMessageString();
     aResShape.Nullify();
   }
 
@@ -268,9 +267,8 @@ IGESPlugin_ImportDriver::GetValue( const TCollection_AsciiString& theFileName,
       theError = theFileName + " reading failed";
     }
   }
-  catch (Standard_Failure) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    theError = aFail->GetMessageString();
+  catch (Standard_Failure& aFail) {
+    theError = aFail.GetMessageString();
   }
   if (!aValue.IsNull())
     return aValue->String();
diff --git a/src/STEPPlugin/STEPPlugin_IOperations.cxx b/src/STEPPlugin/STEPPlugin_IOperations.cxx
index ec5943759..c1bb68656 100644
--- a/src/STEPPlugin/STEPPlugin_IOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/STEPPlugin/STEPPlugin_IOperations.cxx
@@ -145,9 +145,8 @@ void STEPPlugin_IOperations::ExportSTEP
       return;
     }
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode( aFail->GetMessageString() );
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    SetErrorCode( aFail.GetMessageString() );
     return;
   }
 
@@ -205,9 +204,8 @@ STEPPlugin_IOperations::ImportSTEP(const TCollection_AsciiString& theFileName,
     // Greate material groups.
     MakeMaterialGroups( anImported, aSeq );
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode( aFail->GetMessageString() );
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    SetErrorCode( aFail.GetMessageString() );
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/STEPPlugin/STEPPlugin_ImportDriver.cxx b/src/STEPPlugin/STEPPlugin_ImportDriver.cxx
index 8d2bed979..2fcb37f8e 100644
--- a/src/STEPPlugin/STEPPlugin_ImportDriver.cxx
+++ b/src/STEPPlugin/STEPPlugin_ImportDriver.cxx
@@ -787,9 +787,8 @@ Standard_Integer STEPPlugin_ImportDriver::Execute(Handle(TFunction_Logbook)& log
       aResShape.Nullify();
     }
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    anError = aFail->GetMessageString();
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    anError = aFail.GetMessageString();
     aResShape.Nullify();
   }
 
@@ -872,9 +871,8 @@ STEPPlugin_ImportDriver::GetValue( const TCollection_AsciiString& theFileName,
       theError = theFileName + " reading failed";
     }
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    theError = aFail->GetMessageString();
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    theError = aFail.GetMessageString();
   }
   return aValue;
 }
diff --git a/src/STLPlugin/STLPlugin_IOperations.cxx b/src/STLPlugin/STLPlugin_IOperations.cxx
index 0008bf779..20337539d 100644
--- a/src/STLPlugin/STLPlugin_IOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/STLPlugin/STLPlugin_IOperations.cxx
@@ -105,9 +105,8 @@ void STLPlugin_IOperations::ExportSTL( const Handle(GEOM_Object)      theOrigina
       return;
     }
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode( aFail->GetMessageString() );
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    SetErrorCode( aFail.GetMessageString() );
     return;
   }
 
@@ -162,9 +161,8 @@ STLPlugin_IOperations::ImportSTL( const TCollection_AsciiString& theFileName )
     // Greate material groups.
     // MakeMaterialGroups( anImported, aSeq );
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode( aFail->GetMessageString() );
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    SetErrorCode( aFail.GetMessageString() );
     return NULL;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/VTKPlugin/VTKPlugin_IOperations.cxx b/src/VTKPlugin/VTKPlugin_IOperations.cxx
index ab8f79fb2..22dd21d55 100644
--- a/src/VTKPlugin/VTKPlugin_IOperations.cxx
+++ b/src/VTKPlugin/VTKPlugin_IOperations.cxx
@@ -95,9 +95,8 @@ void VTKPlugin_IOperations::ExportVTK( const Handle(GEOM_Object)      theOrigina
       return;
     }
   }
-  catch( Standard_Failure ) {
-    Handle(Standard_Failure) aFail = Standard_Failure::Caught();
-    SetErrorCode( aFail->GetMessageString() );
+  catch( Standard_Failure& aFail ) {
+    SetErrorCode( aFail.GetMessageString() );
     return;
   }