Refining
The 15 refineries can process almost 3 million barrels of crude a day, and three of them rank among the ten largest in the United States, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Louisiana has 15 oil refineries, about one-sixth of US refining capacity, plus a Mississippi River industrial corridor and four operating LNG export terminals. Zone 1 and Zone 21 areas arise at refinery units, petrochemical plants, LNG trains and storage across the state. An Ex-proof mobile phone distributor in Louisiana would carry the IS-04Z1 to these buyers once certification completes.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. Louisiana 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. 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 | Louisiana: LNG liquefaction and loading, Tank farms and terminals, Refinery process units | Classified by the site operator |

An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Louisiana. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
A short profile of the site and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
The 15 refineries can process almost 3 million barrels of crude a day, and three of them rank among the ten largest in the United States, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
In 2024 the four operating Louisiana terminals handled three-fifths of US LNG exports. Sabine Pass is the largest US operating terminal, at about 35 per cent of national LNG exports.
The stretch of river between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is home to more than 140 chemical plants and refineries, with new plants added where cheap natural gas meets international port access.
Other large refineries include Citgo at Lake Charles, Phillips 66 at Westlake, Shell at Norco with about 231,000 barrels a day, and Valero at Norco and Meraux.
The largest refinery in the state is Marathon Petroleum's Garyville plant at 617,000 barrels a day, followed by ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge refinery at about 523,500 barrels a day.
Louisiana is divided into parishes rather than counties, so permits, local authorities and emergency planning bodies are organised at parish level.
“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 Louisiana. A marking check across Louisiana sites would compare zone, gas group and temperature class with each operator's classification, from refineries in the south to LNG trains on the coast. The IS-04Z1 target is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4. Hydrocarbon applications may not need the widest gas group, but IIC gives margin and the operator decides.
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Louisiana. 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.
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.
Likely candidates are refinery process units, petrochemical plants, lng liquefaction and loading, tank farms and terminals. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
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 Louisiana.
Yes, Louisiana's political subdivisions are called parishes, so local permits, emergency planning and site addresses are organised by parish. This matters when preparing paperwork for a plant in, for example, St. Charles or Calcasieu Parish.
Southern Louisiana has long hot summers with nights above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and frequent downpours, so look for sealed, water-resistant devices with an operating range that covers summer plant temperatures. Check the datasheet figures instead of relying on general claims.
Louisiana is humid and has very high rainfall, with storm exposure in the south. IP68 helps against water ingress, but connectors and chargers still need to be kept clean and dry, and charging belongs in safe areas. Ask each site about storm shutdown procedures for portable equipment.
More on Louisiana, and on other places in United States.
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.