The destruction of the refractory structure of a blast furnace depends on the properties of the refractory, the system of cooling the lining, the furnace operating cycle, the action of alkalis, primary slags, zincite, and sooty carbon, the running of the furnace, the thermal stresses in the structure, abrasion of the batch, and other factors. To increase the life of the shaft lining in a blast furnace it is necessary to use dense, high-fired brick for the structure, prepared on the basis of high-grade kaolin raw materials with the minimum content of fluxing oxides; to use the best system of cooling the shaft; and to stabilize the blast furnace working cycle, especially during the first period of operation after the blow right up to complete drying-out of the refractory structure.