The ways of increasing the durability of the lining (increasing the number of fillings) of steel ladles without changing the technology of steel production are considered. It is shown that in the conditions of EVRAZ NTMK JSC, an increase in the durability of the lining is possible due to the strengthening of weak zones with the use of new formats of refractory products while maintaining the useful volume of this metallurgical unit. The use of the new lining scheme allowed to increase the durability of the lining by 5% and reduce the unit costs of refractory products.