What is a drawback of slate roofs?

• A. Weight (dead load) and debris falling danger during vertical ventilation ops
• B. Easy to install
• C. Low cost
• D. Lightweight

Answer: (A)

Slate roofs carry a lot of weight because slate is a dense natural stone used in tiles. That heavy dead load means the building’s structure must be designed to support it; if the framing isn’t up to the task, carrying slate can become a safety and performance issue, especially in older buildings.

When crews perform vertical ventilation, they remove or cut through the roof to vent heat and smoke upward. Slate tiles can crack, shift, or shed fragments during this process, creating a serious debris-falling hazard for anyone below and around the roof. Slate’s brittleness adds to this risk, since broken pieces can scatter and cause injury or obstruction.

So, the main drawback is the combination of substantial weight and the potential for dangerous debris falling during roof operations. The other statements describe characteristics that don’t fit slate—being easy to install, low cost, or lightweight—so they don’t align with slate’s actual properties.