Italy: rules and approvals
Directive 2014/34/EU became mandatory for manufacturers on 20 April 2016, replacing Directive 94/9/EC, and equipment groups divide into Group I for mining and Group II for surface industries.
Italy · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Smartphone Distributor in Italy
The IS-04Z1 is an intrinsically safe Android handset designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21, built for the refineries, petrochemical poles and gas terminals from Porto Marghera to Priolo and Sarroch. The Sarroch refinery in Sardinia, run by Saras since it began operating in 1965, has a refining capacity of about 15 million tonnes a year, equal to roughly 15% of total Italian refining capacity. An explosion proof smartphone distributor in Italy would carry the IS-04Z1 to these buyers once certification completes.
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 topicexplosion proof
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereItaly
Short answer. Italy 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 · explosion proof
Checklist: explosion proof smartphone for Italy
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Protection concept | Flameproof (Ex d) or intrinsic safety (Ex i) | Intrinsic safety, level ib |
| Zone suitability | Zone 1 gas and Zone 21 dust | Design target for Zone 1 and 21 |
| Certificate | Number, issuing body and schedule of conditions | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Italy: Milazzo, Sarroch, Taranto | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Italy
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 Italy. 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 · Italy
Where this applies in Italy
The classified areas, operators and sites below are the ones covered in the SAMS Italy market guide.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Eni
- Refining and biorefining at Sannazzaro, Taranto, Gela and Venice.
- Versalis
- The Eni petrochemical arm, with plants at Brindisi, Priolo and Ravenna.
- Sarlux
- Runs the Sarroch refinery and its power complex in Sardinia.
- ISAB
- Priolo Gargallo refinery, around 320,000 barrels a day.
- Raffineria di Milazzo
- Refinery and marine terminal on the north Sicilian coast.
- Snam
- National gas transmission, underground storage and regasification.
Industrial areas and sites
- Priolo, Melilli and Augusta
- The largest Sicilian petrochemical belt, refining and chemicals together.
- Gela
- South Sicilian coastal site, now producing biofuels.
- Milazzo
- Refinery and port on the Tyrrhenian side of Sicily.
- Sarroch
- Sardinian refinery of about 300,000 barrels a day.
- Taranto
- Refinery and heavy industry on the Ionian coast.
- Brindisi
- Petrochemical plant, power generation and port on the Adriatic.
Field notes · Italy
More about Italy that matters for portable equipment
Italy: infrastructure
Natural gas supplies more than half of Italian electricity, and an important share of electricity is imported, mainly from Switzerland and France, so gas-fired power stations are a large source of classified areas.
Italy: logistics and access
Petroleum is mostly used for transport and natural gas for electricity and heating, so fuel terminals, depots and gas distribution networks are found across the whole country.
Italy: geography and layout
The Val d'Agri area in Basilicata hosts the largest onshore hydrocarbon field in Europe, so upstream work extends to the south of the country as well as offshore.
The term · explosion proof
What “explosion proof” means for a smartphone
“Explosion proof” is the phrase most buyers use for equipment that may be taken into a classified hazardous area. Strictly, it covers several protection concepts: a flameproof enclosure (Ex d) contains an internal explosion, while intrinsic safety (Ex i) limits electrical energy so that an ignition cannot start. Phones are normally intrinsically safe, because a flameproof handset would be too heavy to carry all shift.
The IS-04Z1 uses intrinsic safety, with a marking target of Ex ib IIC T4, and is designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21. It is pre-launch, certification is in progress and no certificate has been issued.
In Italy. In Italy explosion-proof can mean several things. A refinery, a regasification terminal and a petrochemical pole use different concepts. Flameproof Ex d suits some fixed equipment, while a handset used on a fermata, moving between units, suits intrinsic safety. The IS-04Z1 is designed around intrinsic safety for Zone 1 and Zone 21.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Italy
SAMS is appointing authorised distributors ahead of the Q4 2026 launch. No territory has been granted for Italy 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 Italy.
- 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 · Italy
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an explosion proof smartphone in Italy today?
No. Nothing can be bought or taken into a classified area today: certification is in progress and launch is planned for Q4 2026. What is available now is the datasheet, the written certification schedule and evaluation units for safe-area use.
What does an explosion proof smartphone in Italy 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 explosion proof or intrinsically safe?
It is intrinsically safe (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), which is the usual way to make a phone for hazardous areas. It is not a flameproof (Ex d) design, and certification is still in progress.
Which sites in Italy does this cover?
The market guide for Italy covers Priolo, Melilli and Augusta, Gela, Milazzo, Sarroch, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Italy?
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 Italy.
Does Italy require ATEX certified phones in hazardous areas?
Italy applies ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU as an EU member, and employers zone workplaces under Directive 1999/92/EC. Devices for Zone 1 and Zone 2 should carry CE and Ex markings with Italian-language instructions where required. Operators usually add their own approval and permit procedures.
Where is upstream hazardous-area work in Italy?
The Val d'Agri area in Basilicata hosts the largest onshore hydrocarbon field in Europe, and the Po Valley and offshore Adriatic hold moderate gas reserves. Refineries, fuel terminals and gas stations add downstream sites. Confirm site lists with the operator.
Can a device be trialled during a fermata?
The market guide says teams can test a unit through a fermata while certification runs. Trial terms and site access are set by the plant operator, and a unit would need to be accepted for the zones it enters. Ask the operator's HSE team before arranging a trial.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on Italy, and on other places in Italy.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Distributor in ItalySame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Supplier in ItalySame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone in ItalySame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone Supplier in ItalySame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone in ItalySame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier in ItalySame place, different guide
Italy market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for ItalyEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Italy
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Italy
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 · Italy
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Italy?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.