Power stations
Ballylumford, owned by EP UK Investments since 2019, is the region's largest power station and runs on natural gas. Coolkeeragh near Derry is a 400 MW gas-fired plant owned by ESB.
Northern Ireland · ATEX and IECEx
ATEX and IECEx Smartphone in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is a UK region with gas-fired power stations, the Scotland-Northern Ireland gas pipeline landing at Islandmagee and a proposed gas storage cavern project there. Zone 1 work arises at power stations, gas transmission assets and fuel storage. If you are specifying an ATEX and IECEx smartphone for Northern Ireland, this page covers the markings, the approvals and the current certification status 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
DeviceSmartphone
RouteSpecification
WhereNorthern Ireland
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for Northern Ireland: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
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 smartphone for Northern Ireland
| 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 | Northern Ireland: Gas-fired power station fuel systems, Gas transmission pipeline assets, Gas pressure reduction sites | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Northern Ireland
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 Northern Ireland. 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 · Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland: where the IS-04Z1 would work
Who operates there and which kinds of classified area a handset would meet, from the SAMS site research.
Operators and companies on site
- Mutual Energy
- ESB
- EP UK Investments
Classified areas to expect
- Gas-fired power station fuel systems
- Gas transmission pipeline assets
- Gas pressure reduction sites
- Fuel storage
Local conditions · Northern Ireland
What Northern Ireland means for portable equipment
Gas links
Mutual Energy owns the Scotland-Northern Ireland pipeline, the Belfast gas transmission pipeline from Islandmagee, and the Moyle electricity interconnector.
Field notes · Northern Ireland
More about Northern Ireland that matters for portable equipment
Northern Ireland: industry on the ground
The Harland and Wolff shipyard in the Port of Belfast has two of Europe's largest drydocks, with a main dock of 556 m by 93 m, and is licensed for vessel repair and open grit blasting.
Northern Ireland: industry on the ground
Northern Ireland was self-sufficient in food production by 2021 and exported more than half of its meat and crops, so food plants with dust, ammonia refrigeration and flour or feed handling are common.
Northern Ireland: infrastructure
Gas for Greater Belfast arrives through the 24-inch Scotland-Northern Ireland pipeline, and a north-west pipeline from Carrickfergus to Derry opened in November 2004, so gas networks and compressor sites sit across the east and north-west.
Northern Ireland: people and language
Unemployment was about 1.6% in early 2025, so qualified engineering and maintenance contractors can be hard to book at short notice during shutdown periods.
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 Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, a reviewer would expect CE marked equipment, because under the Windsor Framework relevant EU product rules apply, with UKNI added where a UK notified body is used. That makes ATEX evidence central. A dual ATEX and IECEx route also helps operators and contractors working across the UK and Ireland. Both certifications are in progress for SAMS.
The route · specification
Specifying an ATEX and IECEx smartphone for Northern Ireland
A short checklist for anyone writing or reviewing the specification, with the IS-04Z1 status against each point.
Check on the paper
- Marking
- Equipment group, category, protection concept, gas group and temperature class, matched to the area drawing.
- Certificate and schedule
- A certificate number, issuing body and the schedule of conditions, not a brochure claim.
- Standards edition
- The IEC 60079 or national standard edition the certificate was issued against.
Check for the IS-04Z1
- Marking target
- II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4: a target, not yet a certificate.
- Certificate status
- IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and NEC 500 in progress; none issued.
- Operator approval
- Separate from the certificate and handled with the site operator.
Questions · Northern Ireland
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an ATEX and IECEx smartphone in Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland would use it?
Likely candidates are gas-fired power station fuel systems, gas transmission pipeline assets, gas pressure reduction sites, fuel storage. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
Is intrinsically safe the same as explosion proof?
Not exactly. Explosion proof is a broad everyday term; intrinsic safety is one protection concept, which limits energy so ignition cannot occur. Flameproof (Ex d) is a different concept that contains an explosion. The IS-04Z1 is intrinsically safe by design.
Is crossing the Irish Sea a logistics issue for equipment supply?
Goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland pass through post-Brexit customs arrangements, which can add paperwork and lead time. For urgent site equipment, plan stock holding in Northern Ireland or the Republic and confirm the current import documentation with your freight forwarder.
How does the damp maritime climate affect phone selection?
Northern Ireland has a mild but wet and windy climate, with frequent rain and salt air near the coast, so sealing, corrosion resistance and condensation tolerance matter more than extreme temperature ratings. Check ingress protection and gasket quality, and ask the site about its own requirements.
Which marking applies to equipment in Northern Ireland?
Under the Windsor Framework, relevant EU product rules apply in Northern Ireland, so equipment is typically CE marked, with UKNI added where a UK notified body is used. Because rules can change, confirm the current position with the site operator and HSENI guidance.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on Northern Ireland, and on other places in United Kingdom.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone in Northern IrelandSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone in Northern IrelandSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Northern IrelandSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone in Northern IrelandSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone in Northern IrelandSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone in Northern IrelandSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in LondonElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in EdinburghElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in CardiffElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in LiverpoolElsewhere in United Kingdom
United Kingdom market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for United KingdomEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Northern Ireland
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
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 · Northern Ireland
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Northern Ireland?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.