A general description of sprinkler activation time in compartment-fire-generated smoke layers is made. For calculation of the time hot layer temperature is obtained from two-layer zonal model and time constant of sprinkler is measured. Upper-layer thickness at the instant of sprinkler activation is also presented with changes of opening area. The output of the present study provide inputs for the interaction modeling of sprinkler spray and compartment fire environment, which simulates fire suppression phenomena. Futhermore, experiments are performed in mock-up with gasoline pool fire in order to evaluate the reliability of the model.