In this study, the general solution of heat balance equation including conductive heat loss were suggested and were determined the constants with the results of experiment in hot tunnel in order to derive the general equation for the response time and to investigate the response time index which represent the characteristics of response of sprinkler head in actual fires. Two types of test were considered, the plunge test, in which the air temperature is represented by a step function, and the ramp test, in which the air temperature increases at a constant rate. As a result, simple equations were derived, which can be predicted the response time for the ramp type fire with the rate of temperature rise and gas velocity, for the plunge type fire with temperature and gas velocity. Also other useful data, such as the effective temperature, time constant, response time index and conduction parameter were obtained.