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 · hazardous area
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone 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. 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. Distribution partners for Italy 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 topichazardous area
DeviceMobile Phone
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.
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 · hazardous area
Checklist: hazardous area mobile phone for Italy
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Zone | 0, 1 or 2 for gas; 20, 21 or 22 for dust | Designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 |
| Gas group | IIA, IIB or IIC | IIC (target) |
| Area drawing | The operator's own classification drawing | Decided by the site operator |
| 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 an Ex phone is used in Italy
Operators and classified areas drawn from 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: 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.
Italy: geography and layout
Moderate natural gas reserves have been found mainly in the Po Valley and offshore in the Adriatic Sea, which concentrates gas production and processing in the north and east.
The term · hazardous area
What “hazardous area” means for a smartphone
A hazardous area is a place where flammable gas, vapour or combustible dust may be present. Standards divide these into zones: Zones 0, 1 and 2 for gas and vapour, and Zones 20, 21 and 22 for dust. Zone 1 and Zone 21 are the tier where an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur in normal operation, which is where the IS-04Z1 is designed to work. Anything carried in must be marked for the zone, gas group and temperature class of the area.
No certificate has been issued for the IS-04Z1 yet, so it must not be taken into a classified area until the certificate covering it exists and the site operator has accepted it.
In Italy. Italian classified areas include refineries in Sicily, Sardinia and the Adriatic, petrochemical plants at Brindisi and Ravenna, regasification terminals and gas transmission and storage sites. Many sites are coastal or on islands. The operator classifies each area, not SAMS. The IS-04Z1 is designed 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 a hazardous area mobile phone 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 a hazardous area mobile phone in Italy 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.
Which hazardous areas is the IS-04Z1 designed for?
Zone 1 and Zone 21 (gas and dust) with gas group IIC and temperature class T4, subject to certification. It must not be used in a classified area before its certificate is issued and the site has accepted it.
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 Italian summer heat matter for Ex handheld devices?
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.
How should I prepare documents for Italian industrial sites?
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.
Does Italy require ATEX evidence specifically?
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
Keep exploring
Related guides for Italy and for Italy.
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier in ItalySame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in ItalySame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone in ItalySame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Distributor in ItalySame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone Distributor in ItalySame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor 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
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · Italy
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Italy?
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.