A building or portion of a building used for gathering 50 or more persons is a:

• A. A Place of assembly
• B. Business occupancy
• C. An educational occupancy
• D. Mercantile occupancy

Answer: (A)

Understanding occupancy classifications helps you see how life-safety rules are applied based on how a space is used and how many people it can hold. When a building or part of a building is used for gatherings of people for events such as concerts, worship, meetings, or other public activities, and the occupant load reaches 50 or more, that space is classified as a Place of assembly. This classification drives specific requirements for exits, travel distances, fire protection, and other safety features suited to accommodating larger crowds.

The other options describe different primary uses: business occupancy is for offices and professional/administrative spaces; educational occupancy is for schools and classrooms; mercantile occupancy covers retail spaces where goods are sold to the public. None of these are the standard classification for spaces used for large public gatherings, which is why Place of assembly is the best answer.