Where must emergency decontamination take place according to standard protocols?

Emergency decontamination must take place in the decontamination corridor because this area is specifically designed to manage the decontamination process for individuals exposed to hazardous materials. The decontamination corridor provides a controlled environment where responders can ensure safe procedures are followed, and it helps to contain contaminants to prevent further exposure to both victims and responders.

The decontamination corridor typically consists of designated zones that facilitate the process, including an area for removing contaminants, rinsing off hazardous materials, and ensuring that individuals are clean before being allowed to proceed to medical evaluation or other processing areas. This setup minimizes the risks associated with handling contaminated individuals and materials, adhering to safety protocols in hazardous materials response.

The other options do not provide the same level of safety and containment that a decontamination corridor offers, making it a critical element of the emergency response to hazardous materials incidents.