Incinerators place high demands on refractories, as it is difficult to regulate and control incineration processes unlike other high temperature processing industries such as steel. Rapid temperature increases and thermal shock together with mechanical damage caused by handling waste create an 'ideal' environment for stainless steel fibre reinforcement. The complex design of furnaces, a need for efficient repairs and cost considerations have led to a move away from bricks and an increase in the use of ultra low cement castables. The end user has a choice of fibre alloys and lengths to suit different temperature ranges, atmospheric conditions and refractory lining dimensions.