A BOF vessel runs a punishing cycle of oxygen blows, slag splash, and thermal shock dozens of times a shift, and a missed refractory crack or a worn trunnion bearing rarely gives much warning before it becomes a tap-to-tap delay or worse. Sign up to turn this checklist into a recurring digital inspection your converter crew can run from a tablet.
3,000-5,000
Typical heats a refractory lining survives before a relining is needed
Every Shift
Recommended frequency for lance tip and trunnion visual checks
4 Zones
Vessel areas requiring their own inspection routine: lance, lining, trunnion, shell
Minutes
How long a digital checklist takes to complete versus a paper clipboard round
Why a Standard Checklist Matters for BOF Vessels
A converter that skips one shift's lance inspection may run fine for weeks, right up until a worn tip causes an off-target blow that damages the lining early. A consistent, documented checklist catches the small deviations, uneven refractory wear, a sticking trunnion bearing, a hairline shell crack, before they turn into an unplanned reline or a safety incident.
Daily Inspection Checklist
| Component |
What to Check |
| Oxygen lance |
Tip wear, nozzle deposits, cooling water flow and pressure, hoist cable condition |
| Refractory lining |
Visual scan for hot spots, slag buildup pattern, and wear near the tap hole and trunnion ring |
| Trunnion assembly |
Bearing temperature, lubrication level, unusual noise or vibration during tilt |
| Vessel shell |
Shell plate temperature scan and a visual check for warping or discoloration |
| Tilting drive |
Gear oil level, drive motor temperature, and limit switch response |
Run This Checklist Digitally, Every Shift, Without Paper
Oxmaint turns this checklist into a mobile inspection route your converter crew completes shift after shift, with failed checks converting straight into a prioritized work order. Sign up for a free trial and load your first vessel checklist, or book a demo to see it configured for your converter.
Weekly and Campaign-Based Checks
| Frequency |
Inspection Task |
| Weekly |
Refractory thickness measurement at key wear zones using a laser or mechanical gauge |
| Weekly |
Trunnion bearing vibration analysis and lubrication sample check |
| Every 500 heats |
Full lance system overhaul including tip replacement and hose inspection |
| Campaign end |
Complete refractory reline with full shell and trunnion structural inspection |
Paper Clipboard vs Digital Checklist
Paper Clipboard Round
Findings sit on paper until someone manually types them into a work order
No easy way to compare this shift's lining wear against last week's
Skipped checks are hard to spot until an inspection is overdue by weeks
Digital Checklist
A failed check creates a prioritized work order the moment it is logged
Refractory wear trends are tracked heat over heat automatically
Overdue or skipped inspections are flagged before the next shift starts
Safety Requirements Before Every Inspection
Confirm the vessel is fully tilted and locked out from oxygen and hydraulic supply before any close-range refractory or lance inspection, and never approach the shell for a temperature scan without heat-resistant PPE and a clear line of sight from the crane operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q
How often should the full checklist be run?
Lance, trunnion, and shell checks should run every shift, refractory thickness measurement weekly, and a full lance overhaul roughly every 500 heats, with the exact intervals adjusted to your converter's actual campaign data.
Q
What is the biggest cause of early refractory failure?
Uneven lining wear caused by an off-target oxygen lance is one of the most common causes, which is why lance tip condition and jet pattern deserve a check on the same shift as any lining inspection.
Q
Can this checklist be tracked digitally instead of on paper?
Yes. A CMMS mobile checklist lets crew members log each check point against the vessel asset record, with failed items automatically generating a prioritized work order instead of waiting for a supervisor to review a paper form.
Give Your Converter Crew a Checklist That Actually Follows Up
Oxmaint lets you build this exact BOF inspection checklist into a recurring mobile route, with failed checks converting instantly into prioritized work orders. Sign up for a free trial and load your first vessel checklist, or book a demo to see it built around your converter.
