Finland: infrastructure
About 2.8 million Finns rely on district heating, so combined heat and power plants and fuel handling sites exist in nearly every town.
Finland · Ex-proof
Ex-Proof Smartphone Distributor in Finland
The IS-04Z1 is an intrinsically safe Android handset designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21, built for the refinery and polymer plants at Kilpilahti, the metal and chemical parks on the Bothnian coast and the mill and mine sites where a winter round is measured in kilometres. The industrial sector accounted for 53% of total final energy consumption in 2021, well above the IEA average, so process industry sites strongly shape the demand for classified-area equipment. Distribution partners for Finland are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch 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 topicEx-proof
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereFinland
Short answer. Finland 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.
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. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · Ex-proof
Checklist: Ex-proof smartphone for Finland
| 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 | Finland: Kokkola, Harjavalta, Sotkamo | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Finland
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 Finland. 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 market · Finland
Where an Ex phone is used in Finland
Operators and classified areas drawn from the SAMS Finland market guide.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Neste
- Porvoo refinery and renewable fuel production at Kilpilahti and Naantali.
- Borealis Polymers
- Cracker and polyolefin production inside the Kilpilahti area.
- Kemira
- Process and pulp chemicals at Oulu, Joutseno and Äetsä.
- Terrafame
- Nickel, zinc and battery chemical production at Sotkamo in Kainuu.
- Boliden Kokkola
- Zinc smelting and processing in the Kokkola industrial park.
- Yara Suomi
- Fertiliser and nitrogen chemical plants at Uusikaupunki and Siilinjärvi.
Industrial areas and sites
- Kilpilahti, Porvoo
- Refinery, cracker, polymer plants and chemical park behind one perimeter.
- Naantali
- Coastal refining and terminal operations near Turku.
- Kokkola
- Large chemical and metals industrial park on the Bothnian coast.
- Harjavalta
- Copper, nickel and battery material processing in Satakunta.
- Sotkamo
- Metal and battery chemical production in the Kainuu region.
- Äänekoski
- Bioproduct mill with recovery boiler, lime kiln and wood dust areas.
Field notes · Finland
More about Finland that matters for portable equipment
Finland: industry on the ground
Bioenergy and waste make up 33.6% of total energy supply and peat 2.7%, with Finland one of the last countries still burning peat, which brings fuel-dust handling into power and heat plants.
Finland: climate and equipment wear
Energy use per capita is the highest in the EU, partly because of energy-intensive industry, a cold climate and long distances, so winter operation of handheld equipment is a normal planning point.
Finland: rules and approvals
The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency, Tukes, monitors safety in technology, chemicals and hazardous materials, with divisions for facilities and mines and for products and equipment, and is Finland's competent authority for REACH, CLP and Seveso III.
The term · Ex-proof
What “Ex-proof” means for a smartphone
“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 Finland. A marking check at a Finnish site would read the gas group, temperature class and equipment category against the area classification. Hydrocarbon and hydrogen service at Kilpilahti may call for a different group than a pulp mill's dust areas. The IS-04Z1 marking target is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4; it is a target, not a granted marking.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Finland
SAMS is appointing authorised distributors ahead of the Q4 2026 launch. No territory has been granted for Finland yet and applications are reviewed company by company. Because a certified Ex device cannot be opened by an ordinary phone workshop without invalidating its certificate, SAMS looks for partners who can provide competent technical support and after-sales service 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 Finland.
- 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 · Finland
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an Ex-proof smartphone in Finland today?
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.
What does an Ex-proof smartphone in Finland cost?
There is no list price yet. SAMS gives indicative pre-launch pricing in writing, against a stated quantity and site, and does not commit to a lead time before certification completes.
What Ex marking will the IS-04Z1 carry?
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.
Which sites in Finland does this cover?
The market guide for Finland covers Kilpilahti, Porvoo, Naantali, Kokkola, Harjavalta, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Finland?
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 Finland.
Do Finnish biomass and peat plants have different explosion risks from refineries?
Yes, because fuel dust from wood, biomass and peat is combustible, so dust zones such as Zone 21 and Zone 22 matter alongside gas zones. Choose devices with dust group marking suitable for the site's classification drawings and the operator's own requirements.
How does Finland's cold climate affect Ex handheld devices?
Winter temperatures can fall well below the minimum rating of ordinary electronics, and battery capacity drops in the cold. Check the lowest rated ambient temperature on the certificate, glove-friendly touch operation and whether charging must happen indoors outside the classified area.
Do contractors at Kilpilahti need their own approved devices?
Gate procedures and contractor rules are set by the operator and the site authority, so requirements vary. A contractor would normally be asked for evidence that a device suits the zones it enters. Check the rules with the site before bringing any device in.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on Finland, and on other places in Finland.
Industrial Mobile Phone in FinlandSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in FinlandSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone Supplier in FinlandSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone Supplier in FinlandSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in FinlandSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone in FinlandSame place, different guide
Finland market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for FinlandEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Finland
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Finland
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · Finland
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Finland?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.