SEVERE hazard areas must be:

In environments classified as having severe hazard areas, it's essential to implement robust safety measures to mitigate risks effectively. The requirement that these areas must be enclosed with a one-hour barrier and protected by automatic extinguishing systems addresses both the containment of potential hazards and the ability to manage fires quickly should they occur.

An enclosure with a one-hour barrier serves to limit the spread of smoke and fire, allowing for safer evacuation and protecting adjacent areas. This barrier is designed to withstand fire for a specified duration, ensuring that occupants can safely exit the building and emergency responders can manage the incident without the immediate threat of fire spreading to other parts of the facility.

Moreover, automatic extinguishing systems, such as sprinklers, provide an additional layer of safety. They actively detect and suppress fires, minimizing the damage and danger posed by a fire incident. The combination of these two protective measures creates a comprehensive approach to safety in severe hazard areas, addressing the dual concerns of containment and active fire response.

While automatic extinguishing systems alone can improve safety, relying solely on them without the additional barrier would not meet the enhanced safety requirements for severe hazards. Similarly, just having a one-hour barrier without the extinguishing systems would not provide adequate protection against fires that could arise in those environments. Thus,