Water-cooled furnace roof have the following characteristics:
1. Minimize contact between air and molten steel in the atmospheric environment
2. Hanging slag or cold steel on the edge of the ladle does not affect the performance of the furnace.
A roof for a metallurgical ladle/furnace (L.A.F) comprising a self-supporting structure of metallic pipework defining at least one flow circuit for cooling water, with a lower end having a circular peripheral flange (A), with a cylindrical body member of smaller diameter than the flange (A) located above the flange (A) (in use away from the ladle/furnace), and is provided with an end wall having a plurality of apertures each to receive, in a gas-tight manner, a carbon electrode, and an aperture for fume extraction provided in the arcuate wall of the cylindrical body member.