Abstract: An electric arc furnace has a dished hearth, vertical side walls, and a relatively flat roof consisting of a center portion, a relatively planar outer portion and a cylindrical skirt which abuts the side wall to define a space above and around the expected surface of the furnace charge wherein CO containing waste gases can be oxidized to minimize CO and promote heat transfer to the furnace charge. The roof center portion is refractory having holes for receiving electrodes and the outer portion is formed of water-cooled pipes which define sections of the annulus. The upper end of the side walls is also formed of water-cooled panels.