Italy: industry on the ground
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.
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. Buyers searching for an explosion proof smartphone supplier for Italy can take the datasheet and the certification schedule for the IS-04Z1 now; supply follows certification.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. An explosion proof smartphone for Italy cannot be bought yet: the SAMS IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued), and the datasheet, certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
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.
| 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: Taranto, Brindisi, Priolo, Melilli and Augusta | Classified by the site operator |

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.
The main operators, industrial areas and sites that the SAMS Italy market guide covers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
Supply of the IS-04Z1 to Italy starts only after certification, through authorised distributors. Until then a buyer can request the datasheet and the written certification schedule, and arrange a safe-area evaluation unit, which puts the site on the list for the right local channel at launch.
The technical specification, marking target and conditions of use, sent by email.
Which certificates are in progress, in what order, and what is still to be confirmed.
Evaluation units can be used for connectivity, MDM enrolment and workflow testing outside classified areas.
Tell us the site, zone, gas group and quantity so the right authorised distributor can contact you.
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.
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.
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.
The market guide for Italy covers Priolo, Melilli and Augusta, Gela, Milazzo, Sarroch, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
Through authorised distributors once certificates exist. Until then SAMS can send the datasheet and certification schedule and arrange safe-area evaluation units.
Southern Italian summers can be very hot, and direct sun can push surface and battery temperatures up. Check the maximum ambient temperature on the certificate and avoid leaving devices on hot equipment. Coastal and offshore sites add salt air, which affects ports and contacts.
Prepare the EU declaration of conformity, the ATEX or IECEx certificate, Ex marking details and instructions in Italian where required. Italian sites often ask for a safety data pack for contractor equipment, so ask the site safety office for its template before sending devices.
ATEX is the reference in the EU, applied in Italy through national legislation. Some operators and contractors may also ask for IECEx. Ask the operator which evidence it accepts, and note that the IS-04Z1 programme is in progress and no certificate has been issued.
Related guides for Italy and 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.
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.