United Kingdom: rules and approvals
The UK government has legislated to keep recognising CE marking alongside UKCA for a range of product regulations, so check whether the route applies to your product category.
United Kingdom · IECEx
IECEx Cell Phone Distributor in United Kingdom
The IS-04Z1 is an intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 work, from a North Sea deck to a gas governor kiosk at the end of a street. Great Britain applies SI 2016 No. 1107, the UK version of the ATEX rules, so equipment for explosive atmospheres is assessed by UK approved bodies and carries UKCA marking and a body number. Distribution partners for United Kingdom 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 topicIECEx
DeviceCell Phone
RouteDistribution
WhereUnited Kingdom
Short answer. United Kingdom 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. A buyer's engineering review is separate from the certificate. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx cell phone for United Kingdom
| 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 | United Kingdom: Sullom Voe, Grangemouth, Fawley | Classified by the site operator |
Product · United Kingdom
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 United Kingdom. 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 · United Kingdom
Where this applies in United Kingdom
The classified areas, operators and sites below are the ones covered in the SAMS United Kingdom market guide.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Harbour Energy
- One of the largest producers on the UK continental shelf.
- Adura
- Shell and Equinor joint venture with interests in Mariner, Clair, Shearwater and Buzzard (operators vary by field).
- Ithaca Energy
- Operator and partner across central and northern North Sea hubs.
- EnQuest
- Operates Magnus and the Sullom Voe terminal.
- Serica Energy
- Operates the Bruce, Keith and Rhum fields.
- Wood
- Aberdeen engineering, maintenance and shutdown contractor.
Industrial areas and sites
- Aberdeen
- Supply base, heliports and the offshore contractor market.
- St Fergus
- Reception terminal for northern North Sea gas pipelines.
- Sullom Voe
- Shetland oil and gas terminal with export jetties.
- Grangemouth
- INEOS petrochemical complex and the fuels import terminal.
- Fawley
- ExxonMobil refinery and petrochemicals on Southampton Water.
- Stanlow
- Refinery and the Mersey chemical corridor.
Field notes · United Kingdom
More about United Kingdom that matters for portable equipment
United Kingdom: industry on the ground
UK crude oil and condensate production had fallen to about 630,000 barrels a day by 2024, so much of the current work is maintenance, life extension and decommissioning of mature installations.
United Kingdom: industry on the ground
About 98 per cent of UK oil and gas production comes from offshore fields, and the services industry in Aberdeen has been a leader in offshore technology.
United Kingdom: rules and approvals
The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 require employers to identify and classify areas where explosive atmospheres may occur and to avoid ignition sources from unprotected equipment in them.
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 United Kingdom. IECEx is relevant to the UK through the international operators and service companies on the continental shelf, such as the Aberdeen contractor market. A certificate of conformity with its schedule of conditions gives their duty holders a common reference alongside the UK approval. For the IS-04Z1 this certification is in progress.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in United Kingdom
SAMS is appointing authorised distributors ahead of the Q4 2026 launch. No territory has been granted for United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom.
- 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 · United Kingdom
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an IECEx cell phone in United Kingdom 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 an IECEx cell phone in United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom does this cover?
The market guide for United Kingdom covers Aberdeen, St Fergus, Sullom Voe, Grangemouth, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for United Kingdom?
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 United Kingdom.
Do UK offshore installations have different rules for portable devices?
Offshore installations typically add their own permit-to-work, helicopter-transport and zone rules on top of UK law, and operators often keep lists of approved portable devices. Ask the duty holder or contractor for its approved-equipment procedure before sending devices offshore.
How does UKCA marking relate to ATEX for new equipment?
Equipment for Great Britain can be placed on the market under UKCA, using SI 2016 No. 1107 and a UK approved body, or under CE. Manufacturers usually keep both routes open if they sell in the EU too. Confirm the current labelling and importer details requirements with a UK approved body.
Can photographs from the handset support a permit or inspection record?
The 50 MP camera with PDAF is designed to give photographs sharp enough to act on, and GNSS can record where each was taken. Whether they are accepted as permit evidence is a matter for your duty holder and permit-to-work procedure.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for United Kingdom and for United Kingdom.
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone in United KingdomSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Distributor in United KingdomSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Distributor in United KingdomSame place, different guide
UKEX Mobile Phone in United KingdomSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone Supplier in United KingdomSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone in United KingdomSame place, different guide
United Kingdom market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for United KingdomEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · United Kingdom
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for United Kingdom
Tell us what you need to equip and where. The SAMS team answers by email with the datasheet and where each certification route stands.
Enquiry · United Kingdom
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for United Kingdom?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.