Underground access
Equipment taken underground generally has to suit the mine's hazard classification and may need approval by the mine's own electrical or safety department.
Canada Mining Operations · ATEX and IECEx
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Canada Mining Operations
A regional grouping rather than one site: Canada is a major producer of nickel, copper, potash and uranium, and the Sudbury Basin in Ontario is one of the world's largest nickel and copper ore suppliers. Over half of the world's publicly listed exploration and mining companies were headquartered in Canada in 2013, and Toronto handles about 80 percent of global mining equity trades. Distribution partners for Canadian mining regions are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Marking targetEx ib IIC T4Intrinsic safety, Zone 1 / 21 design target · certification in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Search topicATEX and IECEx
DeviceMobile Phone
RouteDistribution
WhereCanada Mining Operations
Short answer. Canadian mining regions has no appointed SAMS distributor yet: the IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued, launch planned for Q4 2026), and distributor applications are open.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. A buyer's engineering review is separate from the certificate. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · ATEX and IECEx
Checklist: ATEX and IECEx mobile phone for Canadian mining regions
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Marking | II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4 on the rating plate | Design target; not yet marked |
| EU-type examination certificate | Notified body number and certificate ID | In progress with TÜV; not issued |
| IECEx certificate of conformity | Number listed on the IECEx online register | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Canadian mining regions: Fuel storage, Explosives storage, Underground mine workings | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Canada Mining Operations
The product behind this search: the SAMS IS-04Z1.
SAMS IS-04Z1
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Canada Mining Operations. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
- IP68 sealed
- 4,000 mAh battery
- 50 MP camera
- Android 16
- Zone 1 / Zone 21 design target
The site · Canadian mining regions
Canadian mining regions at a glance: who is there, what is classified
A short profile of the site and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
Operators and companies on site
- Vale (Sudbury Basin)
Classified areas to expect
- Underground mine workings
- Ore processing plants
- Fuel storage
- Explosives storage
Local conditions · Canadian mining regions
What Canadian mining regions means for portable equipment
Cold-climate working
Winters in much of mining Canada are cold enough that battery performance, glove use on touchscreens and condensation are practical concerns.
Field notes · Canadian mining regions
More about Canadian mining regions that matters for portable equipment
Canadian mining regions: industry on the ground
Canada was the world's largest potash producer in 2019 and a top-ten producer of gold, nickel, platinum, iron ore, titanium, niobium, sulphur, molybdenum and cobalt.
Canadian mining regions: rules and approvals
Federal coal mining regulations (SOR/90-97) require a qualified person to measure air quantity, flammable gas and carbon monoxide on any roadway where a diesel engine runs, at least once every seven days.
Canadian mining regions: rules and approvals
Where flammable gas exceeds 0.8 percent near electrical equipment or diesel engines the area must be tested at least every eight hours, and a methanometer alarm is required at longwall faces where gas may reach 1.25 percent.
Canadian mining regions: industry on the ground
Saskatchewan alone produces about 15 percent of the world's uranium, and hard-rock underground mining has long driven development in northern Canada.
The term · ATEX and IECEx
What “ATEX and IECEx” means for a smartphone
ATEX is the European legal framework for equipment used in explosive atmospheres (Directive 2014/34/EU). IECEx is the international certification scheme built on the IEC 60079 standards. Buyers outside Europe often ask for both: an IECEx certificate is the technical evidence most national regimes build on, while ATEX is the legal route into the European market.
For the IS-04Z1 both routes are in progress with TÜV in Germany and neither certificate has been issued. The marking target is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4: equipment Group II (surface industry), Category 2 (Zone 1 gas), protection concept ib (intrinsic safety), gas group IIC and temperature class T4.
In Canadian mining regions. A mine safety reviewer would expect to see certificate evidence that suits the underground hazard classification, together with the mine's own approval. A dual ATEX and IECEx route, once issued, may help contractors and equipment suppliers who work across several mining regions. The IS-04Z1 has no certificate yet, so certification is a target, not a claim.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Canada Mining Operations
A distributor for Canadian mining regions would carry the IS-04Z1 after certification completes; the Q4 2026 launch is the planning date and no appointment has been made. SAMS reviews applicants one by one and prefers companies with their own Ex-competent technical and service staff, since certified devices must not be repaired outside approved channels.
What SAMS looks for in a partner
- Operator relationships
- Existing supplier registrations or a clear route to them with the main operators and contractors in Canadian mining regions.
- Ex-competent staff
- People who understand zone classification, markings and the conditions of a certificate.
And equally important
- Local-language support
- Documentation, training and helpdesk in the languages the workforce uses.
- Service capability
- Spares, battery replacement and repair routed through SAMS-approved channels.
Questions · Canada Mining Operations
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an ATEX and IECEx mobile phone in Canada Mining Operations today?
No. Nothing can be bought or taken into a classified area today: certification is in progress and launch is planned for Q4 2026. What is available now is the datasheet, the written certification schedule and evaluation units for safe-area use.
What does an ATEX and IECEx mobile phone in Canada Mining Operations cost?
SAMS has not published a price. Any figure you are offered for an uncertified Ex phone should be treated with caution; written indicative pricing is available for a defined quantity and site.
Is the IS-04Z1 ATEX and IECEx certified?
Not yet. Both routes are in progress with TÜV in Germany and no certificate has been issued. Any listing that says otherwise is wrong.
Which areas at Canadian mining regions would use it?
Likely candidates are underground mine workings, ore processing plants, fuel storage, explosives storage. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Canadian mining regions?
Apply through the distributor page with your company details and the territory you cover. SAMS reviews applications company by company and has not yet granted a territory for Canadian mining regions.
Are handheld phones allowed underground in coal mines?
Only if certified for the relevant area and permitted by the mine's rules; the federal regulations focus on gas detection, electrical equipment and ventilation, and each mine adds its own policy. Confirm with the mine manager and ask for the approved device list.
What conditions affect equipment at northern mines?
Cold winters, remote locations and long supply routes are typical, so batteries, spares and servicing need planning. Ask the mine about winter handling guidance and the temperature class they require for classified areas.
Does a surface Ex marking cover underground mines in Canada?
Not automatically. The IS-04Z1 target marking, II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, is a gas-atmosphere marking. Underground equipment generally has to suit the mine's hazard classification and may need approval by the mine's own electrical or safety department. Ask the individual operator what it accepts before assuming suitability.
Related guides
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IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Canada Mining OperationsSame place, different guide
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Hazardous Area Mobile Phone in Canada Mining OperationsSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Distributor in Canada Mining OperationsSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone in Canada Mining OperationsSame place, different guide
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Canada market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for CanadaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Canadian mining regions
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Canadian mining regions, Canada
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · Canadian mining regions
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Canada Mining Operations?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.