Any building or portion of a building in which sleeping accommodations are provided to 16 or more persons who are not related is considered:

• A. A watch office.
• B. A jail.
• C. An assembly.
• D. A dormitory.

Answer: (D)

The situation describes sleeping accommodations for a large group of people who are not related to each other, which is classified as a dormitory. This term is used in fire and building codes to group spaces with similar fire protection needs—namely, shared sleeping areas that can create higher occupant loads and require specific means of egress, fire resistance, and usually enhanced detection or suppression. The other terms refer to different uses: a watch office is a small operational or monitoring space, a jail is a confinement facility, and an assembly is a space for gatherings but not primarily for sleeping. Recognizing the dormitory classification helps determine the applicable fire safety requirements for construction, egress, and protection.