South Africa: industry on the ground
Secunda CTL, owned by Sasol, is the world's largest coal liquefaction plant, with capacity of 160,000 barrels a day from units built in 1980 and 1984, so synthetic fuel gas and liquids handling is extensive.
A Zone 1 / Zone 21 smartphone for crews at the Secunda and Sasolburg complexes, the Natref and Cape Town refineries, Mossel Bay, the fuel terminals and the surface plants of South African mining. Buyers searching for an Ex-proof cell phone supplier for South Africa can take the datasheet and the certification schedule for the IS-04Z1 now; supply follows certification.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. An Ex-proof cell phone for South Africa 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.
Current position: certification in progress, nothing issued, launch targeted for Q4 2026. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Ex marking | Group, category, protection concept, gas group, temperature class | II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4 (target) |
| Gas group | IIA, IIB or IIC matched to the area drawing | IIC (target) |
| Temperature class | T-class below the ignition temperature of the gas | T4, 135 °C (target) |
| Where it applies | South Africa: Durban, Richards Bay, Secunda, Mpumalanga | Classified by the site operator |

An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in South Africa. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
The classified areas, operators and sites below are the ones covered in the SAMS South Africa market guide.
Secunda CTL, owned by Sasol, is the world's largest coal liquefaction plant, with capacity of 160,000 barrels a day from units built in 1980 and 1984, so synthetic fuel gas and liquids handling is extensive.
Mining areas range from the Witwatersrand gold fields to Limpopo platinum mines such as Two Rivers at Steelpoort, so remote sites and deep underground workings are both common.
Electrical safety for some products is handled through SABS certificates of conformity and an NRCS letter of authority, which are separate from ICASA's radio approval.
The 1886 discovery on the Witwatersrand started the gold rush that built Johannesburg's mining industry, and the country is still fifth in world gold production by one account.
“Ex-proof” is shorthand for equipment carrying an explosion-protection marking (the Ex mark) that matches the area it enters. The marking states the protection concept, gas or dust group and temperature class, and it must be backed by a certificate issued by a recognised body, so a phone described as Ex-proof should come with a certificate number you can check.
The IS-04Z1 is designed to carry the marking II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4. That is a target: certification is in progress, no certificate has been issued, and SAMS will publish the certificate numbers when they exist.
In South Africa. A marking check here would read Ex ib IIC T4 against hydrogen-rich synthetic fuel and refining streams that put some areas into gas group IIC, then check IIA and IIB are also covered. For coal handling and conveying at mines and power stations, Zone 21 dust evidence is read beside the gas marking.
There is no stock to order for South Africa yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch, certification is in progress, and supply will run through authorised distributors after the certificates are issued. Procurement teams can prepare now with the datasheet, the certification schedule and a safe-area evaluation.
The technical specification, marking target and conditions of use, sent by email.
Which certificates are in progress, in what order, and what is still to be confirmed.
Evaluation units can be used for connectivity, MDM enrolment and workflow testing outside classified areas.
Tell us the site, zone, gas group and quantity so the right authorised distributor can contact you.
Not today. Until the certificates are issued the IS-04Z1 stays out of classified areas, and until launch there is nothing to purchase. You can ask for the datasheet and the certification schedule, or book a safe-area evaluation unit.
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.
The marking target is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4. It becomes a marking only when the certificate is issued; until then it is a design target.
The market guide for South Africa covers Secunda, Mpumalanga, Sasolburg, Free State, Milnerton, Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Western Cape, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
Through authorised distributors once certificates exist. Until then SAMS can send the datasheet and certification schedule and arrange safe-area evaluation units.
Underground mines typically use Group I classification, with methane and coal-dust risks, while surface plants use Group II and III. SANS standards such as SANS 1515 cover mine gas-measuring equipment. Ask the mine or plant engineer which group and protection level the area drawing specifies before ordering.
Yes. The National Code of Practice for Electrical Machinery in Hazardous Locations sits under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1993 and refers to SANS standards. Mines also have their own regulations and standards, so confirm which rules apply with the site's engineering and compliance team.
No. Underground mining is equipment Group I, which is outside the scope of this device. The IS-04Z1 targets surface areas such as coal handling plants and process units using Zone 1 and Zone 21. Confirm the area and equipment group with the mine's safety officer.
Related guides for South Africa and for South Africa.
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.