The basic function of the ceiling is to transfer the load to the walls, and through them on the foundations of the building. Ceilings carry their own weight, payloads and partition wall loads. Stiffen the walls of the building, separate floors from each other, create a substrate for floors and floors, perform the functions of acoustic and thermal partitions between floors. In the event of a fire, the ceiling must prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent floors. Particularly important is the thermal insulation of ceilings above basements and attics. On the other hand, sound insulation is important primarily in the case of ceilings separating rooms intended for the stay of people from each other..

In damp rooms, the ceilings should be resistant to moisture and water vapor penetration.

The load on the ceiling consists of: constant load, of which they include: the weight of the ceiling structure, insulating and floor layers, sometimes the weight of the roof truss – in the case of, when it loads the ceiling above the top floor and the variable load, of which they include: payload (people and equipment) and the weight of the partitions standing on the ceiling. The value of the payload is specified in the building standards and depends on the purpose of the room (peace, Hall, office, staircase, etc.).

The construction of ceilings is based on the load-bearing walls of the building or on the walls and substrings. They are laid in the direction of a shorter span.

Standardized ceiling spans have a building module 30 cm or 60 Cm. Depending on the type of construction, wooden ceilings are distinguished, ceilings on steel beams, monolithic reinforced concrete ceilings, dense-ribbed ceilings and prefabricated reinforced concrete ceilings (for example. from channel plates).