A flat rolled article (2) passes through a cooling device (1) in a transportation direction (x) at the level of a passline (3). Spray bars (5, 6) extend transversely with respect to the transportation direction (x). The spray bars (5, 6) have, as viewed perpendicular to the transportation direction (x), in each case two outer regions (7, 8) and a central region (9) in between. A liquid cooling medium (13) can be fed into the regions (7, 8, 9) via respective dedicated, individually controllable valve devices (10, 11, 12). Flow rate profiles, pertaining to each region may be set, wherein each region (7, 8, 9) is triangular in shape. The central triangle and the two outer triangles combine to form a rectangle.