Replacement of traditional fire-clay lining of heating hood by fibre heat insulation lining saves fuel and increases furnace efficiency but at the same time results in degradation of temperature - time parameters of anneal and uniformity of warm-up of sheet charge. this degrades metal microstructure and mechanical properties. To improve heating and mechanical properties of metal annealed in fibre - lined furnaces after going to automated control it is recommended to introduce a heating pulse to achieve the needed temperature in the charge bottom or to employ an injection type system of protective environment circulation. It is also possible to use combined (fire-clay and fibre) lining of heating hoods.