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Ulsan · ATEX and IECEx

ATEX and IECEx Smartphone Distributor in Ulsan

Ulsan is a south-east coastal industrial city of about 1.1 million people, with refineries, a petrochemical complex and the world's largest shipyard. The SK Energy refinery has a capacity of 840,000 barrels a day, and a slightly smaller 669,000 barrel a day S-Oil refinery is also in the city, so two very large refineries operate side by side. An ATEX and IECEx smartphone distributor in Ulsan would carry the IS-04Z1 to these buyers once certification completes.

Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026

SAMS IS-04Z1 intrinsically safe smartphone for Ulsan, front view
Marking targetEx ib IIC T4Intrinsic safety, Zone 1 / 21 design target · certification in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Search topicATEX and IECEx
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereUlsan

Short answer. Ulsan 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.

For the record, no certificate exists for the IS-04Z1 today. The programme is under way ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.

At a glance · ATEX and IECEx

Checklist: ATEX and IECEx smartphone for Ulsan

What to check, and where the IS-04Z1 stands today
CheckWhat to look forIS-04Z1 today
MarkingII 2 G Ex ib IIC T4 on the rating plateDesign target; not yet marked
EU-type examination certificateNotified body number and certificate IDIn progress with TÜV; not issued
IECEx certificate of conformityNumber listed on the IECEx online registerIn progress; not issued
Where it appliesUlsan: Tank farms, Shipyard tank and cargo-space work, Refinery process unitsClassified by the site operator
Product · Ulsan

The product behind this search: the SAMS IS-04Z1.

SAMS IS-04Z1 explosion proof mobile phone, front view

SAMS IS-04Z1

An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Ulsan. 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 · Ulsan

Ulsan 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

  • SK Energy
  • S-Oil
  • HD Hyundai Heavy Industries

Classified areas to expect

  • Refinery process units
  • Petrochemical plants
  • Tank farms
  • Shipyard tank and cargo-space work
Local conditions · Ulsan

Conditions in Ulsan that affect handheld equipment

Expansion

S-Oil's Shaheen petrochemical project was planned for completion by 2026, bringing commissioning crews.

Shipbuilding

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries builds tankers, LNG carriers and FPSOs at Ulsan and merged with HD Hyundai Mipo in 2025.

Field notes · Ulsan

More about Ulsan that matters for portable equipment

Ulsan: climate and equipment wear

Ulsan has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate, with monthly means from 2.0 degrees Celsius in January to 25.9 degrees in August and high rainfall from April to September.

Ulsan: infrastructure

The Ulsan Green Hydrogen Town project had laid 188 km of underground pipelines by October 2024 to carry hydrogen, a by-product of petrochemical complexes, to the city centre.

Ulsan: background

Ulsan was designated a Special Industrial Zone in 1962 under South Korea's first five-year plan, and Hyundai Heavy Industries founded its shipyard there in 1973, turning it into a company town.

Ulsan: projects and investment

S-Oil is scheduled to complete the Shaheen Project, one of the world's largest petrochemical facilities with an investment of nine trillion won, by 2026, adding new process areas in Ulsan.

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 Ulsan. Ulsan combines refineries, petrochemical plants and shipyards, so a reviewer would expect ATEX and IECEx evidence from device suppliers working across all three, with international licensors and vessel owners present. The IS-04Z1 certification is in progress and only a datasheet exists now. Each operator decides what it accepts.

The route · distribution

Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Ulsan

Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Ulsan. Each application is reviewed on its merits. Because opening a certified Ex handset in an ordinary workshop invalidates its certificate, the partner must be able to support and service the device locally.

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 Ulsan.
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 · Ulsan

Frequently asked questions

Can we buy an ATEX and IECEx smartphone in Ulsan 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 smartphone in Ulsan 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 Ulsan would use it?

Likely candidates are refinery process units, petrochemical plants, tank farms, shipyard tank and cargo-space work. 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 Ulsan?

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 Ulsan.

Which hazardous-area industries are concentrated in Ulsan?

Two very large refineries, petrochemical complexes, a major shipyard, an automobile plant and a growing hydrogen network. Gas, vapour and hydrogen areas are the typical concerns, and each operator classifies its own plant, so request zone drawings before using handheld devices.

Can shipyard work in Ulsan involve classified areas as well as refinery work?

Yes. Fuel and cargo tanks, paint stores, coating bays and hot-work areas can all be treated as hazardous locations. Shipyards usually issue gas-free and hot-work permits, so ask how portable devices are controlled under those permits.

Do shipyard and refinery requirements differ in Ulsan?

They can. Shipyards work in vessel tank and cargo spaces under permits for each vessel, while refineries classify fixed process areas, so approvals and markings may differ. The IS-04Z1 has no certificate yet. Ask each facility for its own device rules.

Enquiry · Ulsan

Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Ulsan, South Korea

Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.

Enquiry · Ulsan

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Launching Q4 2026

Planning for Ulsan?

Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.