Method and device for sealing a tap opening in metallurgic vessels

The aim of the invention is to provide a method for sealing a tap hole (2) in metallurgical containers and a tapping system for carrying out slag-free tapping. To this end, the bott for closing the tap hole comprises a bott sleeve (7) which receives a heat-resistant flowable material (8). The time at which the bott sleeve is inserted is controlled automatically. After the bott sleeve has been introduced, the tap hole is closed from the outside of the container. The material from which the bott sleeve is made changes in its consistency and/or form under the influence of temperature, in such a way that the flowable material spreads in the tap hole, hereby sealing it.