CNRL: industry on the ground
Canadian Natural is described as the largest producer of heavy crude oil in Canada and the largest independent natural gas producer in Western Canada, so both heavy-oil and gas sites are common.
CNRL · ATEX and IECEx
ATEX and IECEx Smartphone Supplier for CNRL
CNRL is a Calgary-based oil and gas producer, founded in 1973, and is Canada's largest heavy crude oil producer. The company was reported to have 9,709 employees in 2021, and average production was about 1.57 million barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2025, indicating a large multi-site workforce. Buyers searching for an ATEX and IECEx smartphone supplier for CNRL can take the datasheet and the certification schedule for the IS-04Z1 now; supply follows certification.
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
RouteSupply
WhereCNRL
Short answer. An ATEX and IECEx smartphone for CNRL cannot be bought yet: the SAMS IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued), and the datasheet, certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
Status: pre-launch. IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress and no certificate has been issued; launch is planned for Q4 2026. 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 CNRL
| 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 | CNRL: Oil sands mining and upgrading units, Oil and gas production facilities, Gas processing | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Canada
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. 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 organisation · CNRL
Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL) and the IS-04Z1
Where it operates and the kinds of classified area a handset would meet there.
Sites and areas
- Horizon oil sands (north of Fort McMurray)
- Athabasca Oil Sands Project
- Alberta heavy oil and gas operations
Classified areas
- Oil sands mining and upgrading units
- Oil and gas production facilities
- Gas processing
Supplier approval · CNRL
Supplier registration at CNRL
CNRL uses ISNetworld (ISN) for health, safety and environment qualification; businesses register through the prospective suppliers page, and all contractors must ultimately qualify with ISN to work for CNRL. The Ex certificate and an organisation's own vendor or engineering approval are two separate timelines; SAMS is working towards both and holds neither today.
Field notes · CNRL
More about CNRL that matters for portable equipment
CNRL: industry on the ground
In 2018 synthetic crude from northern Alberta oil sands mining made up 39% of production, natural gas 24%, light and medium crude and liquids 13%, and Pelican Lake heavy crude 6%.
CNRL: who works there
The company also owns and operates the Athabasca Oil Sands Project, about 70 km north of Fort McMurray, adding a second large mining and upgrading site in the Athabasca region.
CNRL: geography and layout
Canadian Natural is headquartered in Calgary and operates mainly in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with offshore operations in the UK sector of the North Sea and off Cote d'Ivoire and Gabon.
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 CNRL. A CNRL reviewer assessing a handset for Horizon, the Athabasca Oil Sands Project or Alberta gas plants would expect to see certificate evidence in the form the site uses. ATEX and IECEx are international routes that help contractors and EPCs bringing equipment from outside North America. The IS-04Z1 is in certification and nothing has been issued.
The route · supply
Sourcing the IS-04Z1 for CNRL
Supply of the IS-04Z1 to CNRL starts only after certification, through authorised distributors. Until then a buyer can request the datasheet and the written certification schedule, and arrange a safe-area evaluation unit, which puts the site on the list for the right local channel at launch.
- 01
Request the datasheet
The technical specification, marking target and conditions of use, sent by email.
- 02
Ask for the certification schedule
Which certificates are in progress, in what order, and what is still to be confirmed.
- 03
Evaluate in a safe area
Evaluation units can be used for connectivity, MDM enrolment and workflow testing outside classified areas.
- 04
Register for launch
Tell us the site, zone, gas group and quantity so the right authorised distributor can contact you.
Questions · CNRL
Frequently asked questions
Can CNRL buy the IS-04Z1 today?
Not yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch and its certification is still in progress ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. No unit goes into a classified area before the certificate covering it exists. The datasheet, the certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
What does an ATEX and IECEx smartphone for CNRL cost?
No price is published. While certification is in progress there is no list price and no committed lead time, and a supplier quoting a firm figure for an uncertified Ex handset is promising something it cannot stand behind. Indicative pre-launch pricing is issued in writing against a stated 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.
How does CNRL approve suppliers?
CNRL uses ISNetworld (ISN) for health, safety and environment qualification; businesses register through the prospective suppliers page, and all contractors must ultimately qualify with ISN to work for CNRL.
How will SAMS supply CNRL?
Through authorised distributors once certificates exist. Until then SAMS can send the datasheet and certification schedule and arrange safe-area evaluation units.
How cold do oil sands sites get and does it affect phone use?
Winters in northern Alberta can be severe, with long periods well below freezing, which reduces battery capacity and can affect screens and gloves-on use. Check the device's rated operating temperature and ask the site about its cold-weather work rules.
Are Horizon and the Athabasca project different sites for equipment approval?
They are separate large mining and upgrading operations with their own contractors, inductions and permit systems. A device approved at one site is not automatically accepted at another, so confirm each site's requirements with its safety and electrical teams.
Does Alberta winter cold matter for a handset at Horizon?
Yes. Low temperatures reduce battery capacity and make touchscreens harder to use with gloves. Check the device's stated operating temperature range against site conditions, and keep spares warm in a safe area. IP68 helps against snow melt and dust but is not explosion protection. Confirm with the operator.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for CNRL and for Canada.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone for CNRLSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone for CNRLSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for CNRLSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for CNRLSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for SuncorElsewhere in Canada
Canada market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for CanadaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · CNRL
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for CNRL, Canada
Tell us what you need to equip and where. The SAMS team answers by email with the datasheet and where each certification route stands.
Enquiry · CNRL
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for CNRL?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.