To provide a operating method for a heating furnace having a regener ative burner for preventing the occurrence of a thermal shock to a burner tile and the generation of an excessive thermal stress and for increasing a tile life, in temperature increase rising when a furnace is stopped and operation is started again.

In the operating method of the heating furnace having: the regenerative burner where a fuel feed port 2; a primary air feed port 3; and a secondary air feed and gas suction port 4 to feed secondary air or suck exhaust gas are situated, the furnace is stopped and operation is started again, in a low temperature area until temperature reaches a given furnace temperature, primary air, secondary air, and fuel are fed to effect switching alternation combustion and after reaching a given furnace temperature, secondary air and fuel are fed to effect switching alternation combustion.