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 · hazardous area
Hazardous Area Smartphone Distributor in England
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. Lindsey stopped refining in 2025. Distribution partners for England 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
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereEngland
Short answer. England 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.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · hazardous area
Checklist: hazardous area smartphone for England
| 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 | England: Marine oil jetties, Petrochemical units, Refinery process units | 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: where the IS-04Z1 would work
Who operates there and which kinds of classified area a handset would meet, from the SAMS site research.
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
What England means for portable 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: rules and approvals
Employers must identify and classify areas where explosive atmospheres may occur and avoid ignition sources, for example from unprotected equipment, in those areas.
England: industry on the ground
HSE lists dangerous substances as including solvents, paints, varnishes, flammable gases such as LPG, dusts from machining, sanding and foodstuffs, pressurised gases and substances corrosive to metal.
England: rules and approvals
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.
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.
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 England. England's classified areas include refinery process units, fuel terminals and tank farms, marine oil jetties and petrochemical units. The employer classifies them under DSEAR, not SAMS. Lindsey stopped refining in 2025, so its activity differs from the three operating English refineries, and terminals and gas networks add smaller classified areas elsewhere.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in England
A distributor for England would carry the IS-04Z1 after certification completes; the Q4 2026 launch is the planning date and no appointment has been made. SAMS reviews applicants one by one and prefers companies with their own Ex-competent technical and service staff, since certified devices must not be repaired outside approved channels.
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 England.
- 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 · England
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy a hazardous area smartphone in England today?
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.
What does a hazardous area smartphone in England cost?
SAMS has not published a price. Any figure you are offered for an uncertified Ex phone should be treated with caution; written indicative pricing is available for a defined quantity and site.
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 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.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for England?
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 England.
Does COMAH affect which equipment I can use?
COMAH applies to major-hazard sites such as large chemical and fuel storage establishments and adds management duties on top of DSEAR. Each operator typically sets its own rules for portable electronics, so check the site's permit and induction requirements.
Which regulations govern portable electronics in explosive atmospheres in England?
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 require employers to classify hazardous areas and avoid ignition sources. Equipment choice is then based on the zone, gas group and temperature class, so ask the site for its hazardous-area register.
Does the UK accept CE marking or only UKCA?
Guidance says CE marking is recognised alongside UKCA for Great Britain, with the recognition period currently running to 31 December 2027, and that date may change. Buyers should check the current gov.uk guidance and ask their operator's procurement team what evidence they require.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Other guides for England, other places in United Kingdom, and the pages behind them.
Rugged Mobile Phone Distributor in EnglandSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Distributor in EnglandSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone in EnglandSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone in EnglandSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in EnglandSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone in EnglandSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in NorwichElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Northern IrelandElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in LondonElsewhere in United Kingdom
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in EdinburghElsewhere 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.