A cooling section for a flat rolled material (1) has a frame structure (2), in which a plurality of transport rollers (3) are arranged one after another as seen in a transport direction (x) for the flat rolled material (1). Transport rollers (3) that are immediately adjacent as seen in the transport direction (x) are at a respective distance (a) from each other. The transport rollers (3) are mounted in the frame structure (2) such that they can rotate about a respective roller axis (4). The roller axes (4) run orthogonally to the transport direction (x) and horizontally, so that the transport rollers (4) form a pass line (5) for the flat rolled material (1). At least one lower spray bar (6) is arranged beneath the pass line (5). The at least one lower spray bar (6) has a base block (7), which is arranged beneath the transport rollers (3) and into which a liquid coolant (8) is fed. A number of guide sections (9) project upwards from the base block (7) into intermediate spaces between the transport rollers (3). The guide sections (9) have an upper terminating element (10), on which spray nozzles (11) are arranged, by means of which the coolant (8) fed into the base block (7) is sprayed onto the flat rolled material (1) from below. The guide sections (9) have a respective length (l) as seen in the transport direction (x) of the flat rolled material (1). The lengths (l) decrease at least in the vicinity of the respective upper terminating elements (10), in the direction of the respective upper terminating element (10).