Regulation
DSEAR applies, and the UK recognises CE marking alongside UKCA for Great Britain, with the recognition period currently running to 31 December 2027.
England · Ex-proof
Ex-Proof Smartphone in England
In Great Britain, the 2016 EPS Regulations implement the ATEX equipment directive, and the UK government has extended recognition of goods meeting EU requirements, including CE marking, indefinitely beyond 2024 for many products, in force from 1 October 2024. Lindsey stopped refining in 2025. If you are specifying an Ex-proof smartphone for England, 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 topicEx-proof
DeviceSmartphone
RouteSpecification
WhereEngland
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for England: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
For the record, no certificate exists for the IS-04Z1 today. The programme is under way ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · Ex-proof
Checklist: Ex-proof smartphone for England
| 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 | England: Refinery process units, Fuel terminals and tank farms, Marine oil jetties | Classified by the site operator |
Product · England
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 England. 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 · England
England at a glance: who is there, what is classified
A short profile of the site and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
Operators and companies on site
- ExxonMobil
- EET Fuels (Essar)
- Phillips 66
Classified areas to expect
- Refinery process units
- Fuel terminals and tank farms
- Marine oil jetties
- Petrochemical units
Local conditions · England
Conditions in England that affect handheld equipment
Operating refineries
Reported capacities are roughly 270,000 barrels a day at ExxonMobil's Fawley on Southampton Water, about 296,000 at Stanlow in Cheshire and about 221,000 at Phillips 66's Humber site in North Lincolnshire.
Field notes · England
More about England that matters for portable equipment
England: people and language
DSEAR duties fall on employers and the self-employed and also protect members of the public who may be put at risk by work activity, so contractors share responsibility with site owners.
England: rules and approvals
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, known as DSEAR, require employers to control risks to safety from fire, explosion and substances corrosive to metals in the workplace.
England: who works there
Employers must also prepare plans for accidents and emergencies and make sure staff are informed and trained to deal with dangerous-substance risks, which is why site inductions usually cover equipment rules.
England: rules and approvals
COMAH 2015 is enforced by a joint Competent Authority: HSE, or the Office for Nuclear Regulation for nuclear sites, working with the Environment Agency in England, Natural Resources Wales or SEPA in Scotland.
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 England. A marking check at an English refinery would compare each area's classification with the equipment label, covering zone, gas group and temperature class. Petrochemical units may call for IIC, whereas fuel areas are usually a lower group. The IS-04Z1 target marking is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, pending certification, so confirm it against the operator's list.
The route · specification
Specifying an Ex-proof smartphone for England
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 · England
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an Ex-proof smartphone in England 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 Ex-proof smartphone in England 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.
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 areas at England would use it?
Likely candidates are refinery process units, fuel terminals and tank farms, marine oil jetties, petrochemical units. 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.
Who enforces explosive-atmosphere rules in England?
The Health and Safety Executive, and in some premises local authorities, enforce DSEAR. They expect employers to carry out a risk assessment, classify areas and control ignition sources. Ask your client which assessments and records apply to your work.
Do dust risks count as explosive atmospheres in England?
Yes. HSE lists dusts from machining, sanding and foodstuffs among dangerous substances, so combustible dust areas can be classified in the same way as gas areas. Check whether your task is near flour, wood, metal or grain handling and ask for the zone classification.
Which English sites are the main hazardous-area demand?
England hosts three of the UK's four operating refineries: Fawley, Stanlow and Humber. Fuel terminals, gas networks and chemical sites also contain classified areas. Lindsey stopped refining in 2025. Each operator assesses its own zones, so confirm requirements with the site operator for the specific site.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for England and for United Kingdom.
Industrial Mobile Phone Distributor in EnglandSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone Distributor in EnglandSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in EnglandSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone in EnglandSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in EnglandSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Distributor in EnglandSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Northern IrelandElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in WalesElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in ScotlandElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in CardiffElsewhere in United Kingdom
United Kingdom market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for United KingdomEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · England
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for England, United Kingdom
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · England
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for England?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.