Mexico: rules and approvals
Applicants are described as needing in-country testing in Mexico or at a laboratory recognised under a mutual recognition agreement, plus a local representative or importer.
Mexico · IECEx
IECEx Cell Phone Distributor in Mexico
The IS-04Z1 is an Ex mobile phone for people working inside classified areas at Mexican refineries, offshore platforms, petrochemical plants and fuel terminals. Mexico has two approval schemes, telecom homologation and NOM certification, and neither is mandatory for every product; which applies depends on what is being sold. An IECEx cell phone distributor in Mexico 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 topicIECEx
DeviceCell Phone
RouteDistribution
WhereMexico
Short answer. Mexico 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. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx cell phone for Mexico
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of conformity | Number checkable on the IECEx online register | In progress; not issued |
| Standards edition | The IEC 60079 edition the certificate cites | Stated on the certificate when issued |
| Schedule of conditions | Limits of use, batteries and accessories | Published with the certificate |
| Where it applies | Mexico: Ciudad del Carmen, Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlán, Altamira, Tamaulipas | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Mexico
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 Mexico. 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 · Mexico
Where this applies in Mexico
The classified areas, operators and sites below are the ones covered in the SAMS Mexico market guide.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Pemex
- The national refining system, Campeche production, pipelines and terminals
- CFE
- Power stations and their fuel handling and storage areas
- Braskem Idesa
- The Etileno XXI polyethylene complex in southern Veracruz
- Alpek and Indelpro
- Polyester and polypropylene production on the Gulf coast
- Cydsa
- Chemicals and underground hydrocarbon storage in Veracruz
- Vopak
- Chemical and petrochemical tank terminals at Altamira and Coatzacoalcos
Industrial areas and sites
- Dos Bocas, Tabasco
- The Olmeca refinery, still ramping up through 2026
- Bay of Campeche
- Ku-Maloob-Zaap, Cantarell and the Ayatsil development
- Ciudad del Carmen
- The onshore base supporting the offshore fleet
- Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlán
- Refining and petrochemicals along the Isthmus corridor
- Altamira, Tamaulipas
- The leading port for petrochemical fluids in Mexico
- Tula, Hidalgo
- Refining and power generation on the central plateau
Field notes · Mexico
More about Mexico that matters for portable equipment
Mexico: background
Pemex was formed by decree on 7 June 1938 after the nationalisation of the private oil companies, and it is still state-owned and run by the government.
Mexico: industry on the ground
Oil was first refined into kerosene around 1876 near Tampico, and Pemex's Tula refinery in Hidalgo is among its major inland refining sites.
Mexico: rules and approvals
NOM certificates of conformity, issued by bodies such as NYCE and ANCE, allow customs clearance into Mexico, and the Secretaria de Economia oversees NOM enforcement.
The term · IECEx
What “IECEx” means for a smartphone
IECEx is the international scheme for certifying equipment used in explosive atmospheres. A certificate of conformity is issued by an accredited certification body against a specific edition of the IEC 60079 standards and carries a schedule of conditions of safe use. It is not a legal requirement in most countries on its own, but many national schemes accept it as the technical basis.
The IECEx certificate for the IS-04Z1 is in progress and has not been issued. The marking target is Ex ib IIC T4, the intrinsic safety concept for Zone 1 gas with the hardest gas group (IIC) and a 135 °C temperature class.
In Mexico. IECEx gives Mexican operators and the international contractors beside them, including Valero Mexico and Sempra Infraestructura, a common reference for Zone-based equipment. Ask for the certificate of conformity with its schedule of conditions, which states the marking and use limits. Plants here also think in Clase and División, so that mapping needs to be shown. No certificate is issued yet.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Mexico
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Mexico. Each application is reviewed on its merits. Because opening a certified Ex handset in an ordinary workshop invalidates its certificate, the partner must be able to support and service the device 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 Mexico.
- 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 · Mexico
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an IECEx cell phone in Mexico today?
Not yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch and its certification is still in progress ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. No unit goes into a classified area before the certificate covering it exists. The datasheet, the certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
What does an IECEx cell phone in Mexico 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.
Does the IS-04Z1 hold an IECEx certificate?
No. The IECEx certificate is in progress and has not been issued. SAMS will publish the number when it exists.
Which sites in Mexico does this cover?
The market guide for Mexico covers Dos Bocas, Tabasco, Bay of Campeche, Ciudad del Carmen, Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlán, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Mexico?
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 Mexico.
Do I need both homologation and NOM certification for a phone in Mexico?
Not always. Mexico has telecom homologation and NOM schemes, and which applies depends on the product. Radio products generally need homologation, while some electrical products also need NOM certificates for customs clearance. Confirm both requirements with a Mexican certification body before shipping.
Where does hazardous-area work concentrate in Mexico?
Typically Pemex offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, onshore fields and gas processing plants, refineries such as Tula, and petrochemical complexes on the Gulf coast. Each operator issues its own classification, so request the area drawing and the gas group and temperature class before specifying equipment.
Do Mexican drawings in Clase I División 1 match a Zone 1 device?
They are different systems. Mexican practice follows the American code, so Clase and División is common, while the IS-04Z1 is designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 and has an NEC 500 route in progress. The mapping is a documentation matter, so confirm acceptance with the unidad de verificación and the plant.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on Mexico, and on other places in Mexico.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Distributor in MexicoSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Distributor in MexicoSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in MexicoSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone in MexicoSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone Supplier in MexicoSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone in MexicoSame place, different guide
Mexico market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for MexicoEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Mexico
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Mexico
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 · Mexico
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Mexico?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.