diff --git a/src/SMESH/SMESH_Mesh.cxx b/src/SMESH/SMESH_Mesh.cxx
index 9501c4d5d..3982ecdac 100644
--- a/src/SMESH/SMESH_Mesh.cxx
+++ b/src/SMESH/SMESH_Mesh.cxx
@@ -1418,3 +1418,12 @@ ostream& SMESH_Mesh::Dump(ostream& save)
   save << "===========================================================================" << endl;
   return save;
 }
+
+//=======================================================================
+//function : GetElementType
+//purpose  : Returns type of mesh element with certain id
+//=======================================================================
+SMDSAbs_ElementType SMESH_Mesh::GetElementType( const int id, const bool iselem )
+{
+  return _myMeshDS->GetElementType( id, iselem );
+}
diff --git a/src/SMESH/SMESH_Mesh.hxx b/src/SMESH/SMESH_Mesh.hxx
index a91a8861b..15916da55 100644
--- a/src/SMESH/SMESH_Mesh.hxx
+++ b/src/SMESH/SMESH_Mesh.hxx
@@ -222,6 +222,8 @@ public:
   bool RemovePropagationChain (const TopoDS_Shape& theMainEdge);
   bool BuildPropagationChain (const TopoDS_Shape& theMainEdge);
 
+  SMDSAbs_ElementType GetElementType( const int id, const bool iselem );
+  
   //
   
   ostream& Dump(ostream & save);