diff --git a/src/pe/utility/CreateWorld.cpp b/src/pe/utility/CreateWorld.cpp
index f5e3feb0233536baaf005d0645755539e2da94ad..a95db6201c0ea3878c9174b0c402fb65d2104f6e 100644
--- a/src/pe/utility/CreateWorld.cpp
+++ b/src/pe/utility/CreateWorld.cpp
@@ -30,13 +30,32 @@
 #include <core/logging/Logging.h>
 #include <core/math/AABB.h>
 
+#include <memory>
+
 namespace walberla {
 namespace pe {
 
-shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForest(const math::AABB simulationDomain,
-                                          Vector3<uint_t> blocks,
-                                          const Vector3<bool> isPeriodic,
-                                          const uint_t numberOfProcesses)
+class FixedRefinementLevelSelector
+{
+public:
+   FixedRefinementLevelSelector( const uint_t level ) : level_(level) {}
+   void operator()( SetupBlockForest& forest )
+   {
+      for( auto block = forest.begin(); block != forest.end(); ++block )
+      {
+         if( block->getLevel() < level_ )
+            block->setMarker( true );
+      }
+   }
+private:
+   uint_t level_;
+};
+
+std::unique_ptr<SetupBlockForest> createSetupBlockForest(const math::AABB simulationDomain,
+                                                         Vector3<uint_t> blocks,
+                                                         const Vector3<bool> isPeriodic,
+                                                         const uint_t numberOfProcesses,
+                                                         const uint_t initialRefinementLevel)
 {
    WALBERLA_MPI_SECTION()
    {
@@ -59,14 +78,25 @@ shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForest(const math::AABB simulationDomain,
       blocks[2] = 2;
    }
 
-   SetupBlockForest sforest;
-   sforest.addWorkloadMemorySUIDAssignmentFunction( blockforest::uniformWorkloadAndMemoryAssignment );
-   sforest.init( simulationDomain, blocks[0], blocks[1], blocks[2], isPeriodic[0], isPeriodic[1], isPeriodic[2] );
+   auto sforest = std::unique_ptr<SetupBlockForest>( new SetupBlockForest() );
+   sforest->addWorkloadMemorySUIDAssignmentFunction( blockforest::uniformWorkloadAndMemoryAssignment );
+   sforest->addRefinementSelectionFunction( FixedRefinementLevelSelector(initialRefinementLevel) );
+   sforest->init( simulationDomain, blocks[0], blocks[1], blocks[2], isPeriodic[0], isPeriodic[1], isPeriodic[2] );
 
-   WALBERLA_LOG_INFO_ON_ROOT( "Balancing for " << numberOfProcesses << " processes...");
+   WALBERLA_LOG_INFO_ON_ROOT( "Balancing " << sforest->getNumberOfBlocks() << " blocks for " << numberOfProcesses << " processes...");
 
-   sforest.balanceLoad( blockforest::StaticLevelwiseCurveBalance(true), numberOfProcesses, real_t(0), memory_t(0), false, true );
-   return shared_ptr< BlockForest >( new BlockForest( uint_c( MPIManager::instance()->rank() ), sforest, false ) );
+   sforest->balanceLoad( blockforest::StaticLevelwiseCurveBalance(true), numberOfProcesses, real_t(0), memory_t(0), false, true );
+   return sforest;
+}
+
+shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForest(const math::AABB simulationDomain,
+                                          Vector3<uint_t> blocks,
+                                          const Vector3<bool> isPeriodic,
+                                          const uint_t numberOfProcesses,
+                                          const uint_t initialRefinementLevel)
+{
+   std::unique_ptr<SetupBlockForest> sforest( createSetupBlockForest( simulationDomain, blocks, isPeriodic, numberOfProcesses, initialRefinementLevel ));
+   return shared_ptr< BlockForest >( new BlockForest( uint_c( MPIManager::instance()->rank() ), *sforest, false ) );
 }
 
 shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForest(const math::AABB simulationDomain,
@@ -74,31 +104,9 @@ shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForest(const math::AABB simulationDomain,
                                           const Vector3<bool> isPeriodic,
                                           const bool setupRun,
                                           const std::string sbffile,
-                                          const uint_t numberOfProcesses)
+                                          const uint_t numberOfProcesses,
+                                          const uint_t initialRefinementLevel)
 {
-   WALBERLA_MPI_SECTION()
-   {
-      MPIManager::instance()->useWorldComm();
-   }
-
-   if (isPeriodic[0] && blocks[0]<2)
-   {
-      WALBERLA_LOG_WARNING_ON_ROOT( "To few blocks in periodic x direction (" << blocks[0] << ")! Setting to 2..." );
-      blocks[0] = 2;
-   }
-   if (isPeriodic[1] && blocks[1]<2)
-   {
-      WALBERLA_LOG_WARNING_ON_ROOT( "To few blocks in periodic y direction (" << blocks[1] << ")! Setting to 2..." );
-      blocks[1] = 2;
-   }
-   if (isPeriodic[2] && blocks[2]<2)
-   {
-      WALBERLA_LOG_WARNING_ON_ROOT( "To few blocks in periodic z direction (" << blocks[2] << ")! Setting to 2..." );
-      blocks[2] = 2;
-   }
-
-   WALBERLA_LOG_INFO_ON_ROOT( "Setup file specified: Using " << sbffile );
-
    if (setupRun)
    {
       WALBERLA_LOG_INFO_ON_ROOT("Setup run. For production run specify 'setupRun = false'");
@@ -110,16 +118,8 @@ shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForest(const math::AABB simulationDomain,
       {
          WALBERLA_LOG_INFO_ON_ROOT( "Creating the block structure ..." );
 
-         SetupBlockForest sforest;
-
-         sforest.addWorkloadMemorySUIDAssignmentFunction( blockforest::uniformWorkloadAndMemoryAssignment );
-
-         sforest.init( simulationDomain, blocks[0], blocks[1], blocks[2], isPeriodic[0], isPeriodic[1], isPeriodic[2] );
-
-         // calculate process distribution
-         sforest.balanceLoad( blockforest::StaticLevelwiseCurveBalance(true), numberOfProcesses, real_t(0), memory_t(0), false, true );
-
-         sforest.saveToFile( sbffile.c_str() );
+         std::unique_ptr<SetupBlockForest> sforest( createSetupBlockForest(simulationDomain, blocks, isPeriodic, numberOfProcesses, initialRefinementLevel) );
+         sforest->saveToFile( sbffile.c_str() );
 
          WALBERLA_LOG_INFO_ON_ROOT( "SetupBlockForest successfully saved to file!" );
       }
@@ -129,13 +129,12 @@ shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForest(const math::AABB simulationDomain,
 
    WALBERLA_LOG_INFO_ON_ROOT( "Production Run!" );
    WALBERLA_LOG_INFO_ON_ROOT( "Creating the block structure: loading from file \'" << sbffile << "\' ..." );
-
    return shared_ptr< BlockForest >( new BlockForest( uint_c( MPIManager::instance()->rank() ), sbffile.c_str(), true, false ) );
 }
 
+
 shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForestFromConfig(const Config::BlockHandle& mainConf)
 {
-
    bool setupRun                 = mainConf.getParameter< bool >( "setupRun", true );
    Vec3 simulationCorner         = mainConf.getParameter<Vec3>("simulationCorner", Vec3(0, 0, 0));
    Vec3 simulationSize           = mainConf.getParameter<Vec3>("simulationDomain", Vec3(10, 10, 10));
@@ -144,19 +143,18 @@ shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForestFromConfig(const Config::BlockHandle& m
    Vector3<bool> isPeriodic      = mainConf.getParameter<Vector3<bool>>("isPeriodic", Vector3<bool>(true, true, true));
    uint_t numberOfProcesses      = mainConf.getParameter<uint_t>( "numberOfProcesses",
                                                                   setupRun ? blocks[0] * blocks[1] * blocks[2] : uint_c(mpi::MPIManager::instance()->numProcesses()) );
+   uint_t initialRefinementLevel = mainConf.getParameter<uint_t>( "initialRefinementLevel", uint_t(0) );
 
    if( !mainConf.isDefined( "sbfFile" ) )
    {
       WALBERLA_LOG_INFO_ON_ROOT( "No setup file specified: Creation without setup file!" );
-
-      return createBlockForest( simulationDomain, blocks, isPeriodic, numberOfProcesses);
+      return createBlockForest(simulationDomain, blocks, isPeriodic, numberOfProcesses, initialRefinementLevel);
    }
 
    // sbf file given -> try to load or save domain decomposition
    std::string sbffile = mainConf.getParameter< std::string >( "sbfFile" );
    WALBERLA_LOG_INFO_ON_ROOT( "Setup file specified: Using " << sbffile );
-
-   return createBlockForest(simulationDomain, blocks, isPeriodic, setupRun, sbffile, numberOfProcesses);
+   return createBlockForest(simulationDomain, blocks, isPeriodic, setupRun, sbffile, numberOfProcesses, initialRefinementLevel);
 }
 
 } // namespace pe
diff --git a/src/pe/utility/CreateWorld.h b/src/pe/utility/CreateWorld.h
index 1594b8172e8b286eca664d5b6350b110d1a02965..3d66078348bb8d9d2c358a35d7086d32810d0083 100644
--- a/src/pe/utility/CreateWorld.h
+++ b/src/pe/utility/CreateWorld.h
@@ -34,13 +34,15 @@ namespace pe {
 shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForest(const math::AABB simulationDomain,
                                           Vector3<uint_t> blocks,
                                           const Vector3<bool> isPeriodic,
-                                          const uint_t numberOfProcesses = uint_c(mpi::MPIManager::instance()->numProcesses()));
+                                          const uint_t numberOfProcesses = uint_c(mpi::MPIManager::instance()->numProcesses()),
+                                          const uint_t initialRefinementLevel = uint_t(0));
 shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForest(const math::AABB simulationDomain,
                                           Vector3<uint_t> blocks,
                                           const Vector3<bool> isPeriodic,
                                           const bool setupRun,
                                           const std::string sbffile,
-                                          const uint_t numberOfProcesses = uint_c(mpi::MPIManager::instance()->numProcesses()));
+                                          const uint_t numberOfProcesses = uint_c(mpi::MPIManager::instance()->numProcesses()),
+                                          const uint_t initialRefinementLevel = uint_t(0));
 shared_ptr<BlockForest> createBlockForestFromConfig(const Config::BlockHandle& mainConf);
 
 } // namespace pe
diff --git a/tests/pe/CMakeLists.txt b/tests/pe/CMakeLists.txt
index 8268c9a158e44a5d9f090b8c1164e463ce4e4a66..5059d761e6550ffa6852d78631697fbf290568fb 100644
--- a/tests/pe/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tests/pe/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ waLBerla_execute_test( NAME   PE_COLLISION )
 waLBerla_compile_test( NAME   PE_COLLISIONTOBIASGJK FILES CollisionTobiasGJK.cpp DEPENDS core  )
 waLBerla_execute_test( NAME   PE_COLLISIONTOBIASGJK )
 
+waLBerla_compile_test( NAME   PE_CREATEWORLD FILES CreateWorld.cpp DEPENDS core  )
+waLBerla_execute_test( NAME   PE_CREATEWORLD )
+
 waLBerla_compile_test( NAME   PE_DELETEBODY FILES DeleteBody.cpp DEPENDS core blockforest  )
 waLBerla_execute_test( NAME   PE_DELETEBODY_NN COMMAND $<TARGET_FILE:PE_DELETEBODY> )
 waLBerla_execute_test( NAME   PE_DELETEBODY_SO COMMAND $<TARGET_FILE:PE_DELETEBODY> --syncShadowOwners )
diff --git a/tests/pe/CreateWorld.cpp b/tests/pe/CreateWorld.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6a79b5bfb59fc72618a145147c6a180c746d7d01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/pe/CreateWorld.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+//======================================================================================================================
+//
+//  This file is part of waLBerla. waLBerla is free software: you can 
+//  redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public
+//  License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of 
+//  the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+//  
+//  waLBerla is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT 
+//  ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or 
+//  FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License 
+//  for more details.
+//  
+//  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+//  with waLBerla (see COPYING.txt). If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+//
+//! \file HCSITS.cpp
+//! \brief checks equality of hash grids and simple ccd
+//! \author Sebastian Eibl <sebastian.eibl@fau.de>
+//
+//======================================================================================================================
+
+#include "pe/basic.h"
+#include "pe/utility/CreateWorld.h"
+
+#include "blockforest/all.h"
+#include "core/all.h"
+#include "domain_decomposition/all.h"
+
+#include "core/debug/TestSubsystem.h"
+
+using namespace walberla;
+using namespace walberla::pe;
+
+typedef boost::tuple<Sphere, Plane> BodyTuple ;
+
+int main( int argc, char** argv )
+{
+   walberla::debug::enterTestMode();
+   Environment env(argc, argv);
+   WALBERLA_UNUSED(env);
+
+   // create blocks
+   auto forest = createBlockForest(
+                    math::AABB(0,0,0,10,10,10),
+                    Vector3<uint_t>(1,1,1),
+                    Vector3<bool>(false, false, false),
+                    1,
+                    1);
+
+   WALBERLA_CHECK_EQUAL( forest->size(), 8);
+   for (auto blockIt = forest->begin(); blockIt != forest->end(); ++blockIt)
+   {
+      blockforest::Block& currentBlock = *(dynamic_cast<blockforest::Block*>(&(*blockIt)));
+      WALBERLA_CHECK_EQUAL( currentBlock.getLevel(), 1);
+   }
+
+   return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+}