thumb|right|An American college dormitory room in 2002

A dormitory (originated from the Latin word dormitorium, often abbreviated to dorm,) is a room that sleeps multiple people. It may also refer (in the United States) to a building primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people such as student accommodation for university or college students, or a hostel (students, workers or travelers).

Types of dormitory

thumb|A [[seminary dormitory in Vagharshapat, Armavir Province, Armenia]]

Barracks

Boarding school dormitories

thumb|Dormitory at [[The Armidale School, New South Wales, 1898]]

thumb|High school dormitory in [[Sabah, Malaysia]]

Boarding schools generally have dormitories (in the sense of a shared room for multiple people) for at least junior or younger children around age 4 to 9 years of age. In classic British boarding schools these typically have bunk beds that have traditionally come to be associated with boarding schools. The Department for Children, Schools and Families, in conjunction with the Department of Health of the United Kingdom, has prescribed guidelines for dormitories in boarding schools. These regulations come under what is called as the National Boarding Standards.

The National Boarding Standards in the UK have prescribed a minimum floor area or living space required for each student and other aspects of basic facilities. The minimum floor area of a dormitory accommodating two or more students is defined as the number of students sleeping in the dormitory multiplied by 4.2&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>, plus 1.2&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>. A minimum distance of 0.9&nbsp;m should also be maintained between any two beds in a dormitory, bedroom or cubicle. If students have individual sleeping cubicles, each student must be provided with a window and a minimum floor area of 5.0&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>. A bedroom for a single student should have a floor area of at least 6.0&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup> and have a window. Sleeping accommodation should be separated by age group and gender. Dormitories should also provide a shower or bath for each ten students and a toilet or urinal for each five students.

Dormitory ship

Prison dormitories

Housing units in prisons that house multiple inmates in a single large room are referred to as "dormitories". This style of housing is generally used in the US at low security federal prisons. These rooms normally house 50 to 100 prisoners in bunk beds.

Student accommodation

See also

  • Barracks
  • Hostel
  • List of dormitory buildings
  • Public housing
  • Residential college
  • Student Village (disambiguation)

Notes

References

  • Association of College and University Housing Officers - International
  • The Evolution of the College Dorm