TapholeTaphole operationsOperation are critical to safe and successful furnaceFurnace operationOperation. The accurate monitoring of the tapholeTaphole condition is important as the basis for safe, timely, and optimised maintenance strategies. The data obtained can also inform future designDesign improvements. This study investigated the placement of instrumentation to monitor performancePerformance and wear on the blisterBlister tapholesTaphole designed by Tenova PyrometTenova pyromet for the direct-to-blisterBlister flash furnaceFlash furnace and the slag cleaning furnaceSlag Cleaning Furnace at the BHP Olympic DamOlympic Dam operationOperation. Various tapholeTaphole refractoryRefractories conditions, operational conditions, and maintenance actions were simulated to determine the relative sensitivity of the tapholeTaphole instrumentation's response at several positions within the tapholeTaphole assembly. Conclusions are reached on which of the thermocouple positions are sufficiently sensitive to accurately measure actual tapholeTaphole wear. In addition, the impact of indirect factors influencing the measurements and the practicalities of the installation of the instrumentation are considered. Finally, recommendations are presented for the implementation of a strategy for interpreting the measured data to employ as a basis for tapholeTaphole wear monitoring and the determination of operational limits.