SOCAR: industry on the ground
SOCAR operates two oil refineries, including the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery, and one gas processing plant; the Azerneftyagh refinery processes 21 of the 24 grades of Azerbaijani crude.
SOCAR · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Smartphone for SOCAR
SOCAR is Azerbaijan's fully state-owned oil and gas company, founded in 1992 and based in Baku. SOCAR was created on 13 September 1992 by merging Azerineft State Concern and the Azerneftkimiya Production Association, and it is headquartered in Baku as a fully state-owned company. This page explains what to look for in an explosion proof smartphone for SOCAR, and where the IS-04Z1 stands against that list today.
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
RouteSpecification
WhereSOCAR
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for SOCAR: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · explosion proof
Checklist: explosion proof smartphone for SOCAR
| 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 | SOCAR: Offshore production platforms, Refinery process units, Petrochemical plants | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Azerbaijan
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 Azerbaijan. 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 organisation · SOCAR
State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and the IS-04Z1
Where it operates and the kinds of classified area a handset would meet there.
Sites and areas
- Baku (Heydar Aliyev refinery)
- Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli offshore complex (SOCAR holds a stake)
- Sumgayit petrochemicals (Azerikimya)
- STAR refinery, Izmir, Turkiye
Classified areas
- Offshore production platforms
- Refinery process units
- Petrochemical plants
- Gas processing
Supplier approval · SOCAR
Becoming an approved supplier to SOCAR
SOCAR's website has a dedicated procurement section covering procurement notices, standards and pre-qualification requirements; suppliers follow the process published there. The Ex certificate and an organisation's own vendor or engineering approval are two separate timelines; SAMS is working towards both and holds neither today.
Field notes · SOCAR
More about SOCAR that matters for portable equipment
SOCAR: who works there
The group includes subsidiaries such as Petkim and the STAR Refinery in Turkey and the Baku Shipyard, so site rules differ between Azerbaijani, Turkish and shipyard facilities.
SOCAR: logistics and access
SOCAR holds 25% of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and 16.7% of the South Caucasus Pipeline, and is the major shareholder in the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline, linking Caspian output to Turkey and Europe.
SOCAR: logistics and access
It operates the Dubendi oil terminal in Azerbaijan and the Kulevi oil terminal in Georgia, which are important for oil transport and export, adding marine and storage terminals to its estate.
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 SOCAR. At the Heydar Aliyev refinery or Sumgayit petrochemical plants, 'explosion-proof' usually covers several concepts. Flameproof Ex d enclosures house motors and switchgear, while intrinsic safety suits portable devices on inspection rounds. A phone is portable, so the IS-04Z1 follows the intrinsic safety route rather than a flameproof casing.
The route · specification
Specifying an explosion proof smartphone for SOCAR
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 · SOCAR
Frequently asked questions
Can SOCAR buy the IS-04Z1 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 for SOCAR 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.
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.
How does SOCAR approve suppliers?
SOCAR's website has a dedicated procurement section covering procurement notices, standards and pre-qualification requirements; suppliers follow the process published there.
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.
Do international partners set separate equipment rules at Caspian projects?
Often yes. Large offshore fields are run through production sharing agreements with international partners, and the operating company normally applies its own HSE and approved-equipment requirements. Identify the operator of each site and ask it for its certification and contractor requirements.
What language is expected in documentation for Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijani is the national language and English is widely used in international joint ventures, so documentation is often accepted in English for engineering review, with local-language instructions needed for workers. Confirm with SOCAR or the operating company which language their approval process requires.
Does a phone for Sumgayit petrochemical plants need a different marking from a refinery?
Possibly. Petrochemical areas can involve gas groups needing IIC, while fuel areas may involve IIA or IIB, so compare the device marking with each area's classification. The IS-04Z1 target marking is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, still unissued. Ask SOCAR's HSE team for the area documents.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for SOCAR and for Azerbaijan.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Supplier for SOCARSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for SOCARSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone for SOCARSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone for SOCARSame place, different guide
Azerbaijan market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for AzerbaijanEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · SOCAR
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for SOCAR, Azerbaijan
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Enquiry · SOCAR
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for SOCAR?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.