What exactly is a false ceiling?

European standard EN 13964:2004 defines the false ceiling as follows:
"Suspended ceiling that is suspended by a suspension or by a substructure or perimeter profile that is fixed directly to the supporting structure (floor, roof, beams or walls) at a distance from the floor and from the roof overhead"
What are the main components of a false ceiling?

The main components of a false ceiling are:
  1. UPPER FIXING SYSTEM;
  2. SUSPENSION;
  3. SUPPORTING ELEMENT;
  4. FALSE CEILING MEMBRANE COMPONENT;
  5. PERIMETER PROFILE.
 1. UPPER FIXING SYSTEM: A fixing system that connects the suspension or substructure components directly to the load-bearing structure.

2. SUSPENSION: The part of the substructure that connects it to the load-bearing structure.

3. SUPPORTING ELEMENT: or substructure; suspended frame that supports the ceiling membrane. There are three types of substructure:

  1. EXPOSED: Substructure where the underside is exposed (PSV PANELS)
  2. CONCEALED: Substructure where the underside is not exposed (PSN PANELS)
  3. SEMI-CONCEALED: Substructure where the underside is exposed in one direction and the intermediate profiles, which are angled with respect to the support profiles, are concealed.
4. (THIN) MEMBRANE COMPONENT: Product consisting of the exposed surface of the ceiling facing the room or space, excluding any visible substructure, the edges of which are obtained by moulding the material of the base board and where its thickness allows permanent moulding.

5. PERIMETER PROFILE: Section fixed to the perimeter of the ceiling to support the components of the substructure or of the ceiling membrane or both, or fixed to the membrane of the ceiling itself and supported by it.

What does 'Reaction to Fire' mean?

REACTION TO FIRE identifies the behaviour of the material in the presence of flames. It is evaluated in "classes", from A1 to E.
Material in class A1 is considered fireproof.
Fire reaction classes are determined on the basis of Italian Interior Ministry Decree of 10/3/2005, published in the Official Gazzette No. 73 of 30/3/2005.
What does 'Fire Resistance' mean?

FIRE RESISTANCE is the behaviour of a structure in conserving, for a given time, all or part of: its STABILITY (R), its SEAL (E) and its INSULATION (I).
Its value is indicated by the initials REI followed by a number showing the time measured in minutes. (e.g. REI 120)
What does 'Acoustic insulation' mean?

ACOUSTIC INSULATION is the capacity of a system to insulate an environment acoustically against sounds coming from the outside world and vice versa.
What does 'Acoustic absorption' mean?

ACOUSTIC ABSORPTION is the capacity of a system to reduce reverberation and reflected noise produced by sources of noise within the environment.