Refining
SK Energy and S-Oil operate refineries in Ulsan; S-Oil's Onsan refinery had about 650,000 barrels per day in 2016.
Ulsan · IECEx
IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Ulsan
Ulsan is a south-east coastal industrial city of about 1.1 million people, with refineries, a petrochemical complex and the world's largest shipyard. Process plants, tank farms and shipyard work create extensive Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas. Distribution partners for Ulsan 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
DeviceMobile Phone
RouteDistribution
WhereUlsan
Short answer. Ulsan 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. A buyer's engineering review is separate from the certificate. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx mobile phone for Ulsan
| 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 | Ulsan: Tank farms, Shipyard tank and cargo-space work, Refinery process units | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Ulsan
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 Ulsan. 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 · Ulsan
Ulsan: 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
- SK Energy
- S-Oil
- HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
Classified areas to expect
- Refinery process units
- Petrochemical plants
- Tank farms
- Shipyard tank and cargo-space work
Local conditions · Ulsan
Conditions in Ulsan that affect handheld equipment
Expansion
S-Oil's Shaheen petrochemical project was planned for completion by 2026, bringing commissioning crews.
Field notes · Ulsan
More about Ulsan that matters for portable equipment
Ulsan: who works there
Ulsan is the corporate base of the Hyundai group, and SK Energy and S-Oil also operate there, so supplier registration usually runs through each company's own vendor process.
Ulsan: climate and equipment wear
Ulsan has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate, with monthly means from 2.0 degrees Celsius in January to 25.9 degrees in August and high rainfall from April to September.
Ulsan: infrastructure
The Ulsan Green Hydrogen Town project had laid 188 km of underground pipelines by October 2024 to carry hydrogen, a by-product of petrochemical complexes, to the city centre.
Ulsan: background
Ulsan was designated a Special Industrial Zone in 1962 under South Korea's first five-year plan, and Hyundai Heavy Industries founded its shipyard there in 1973, turning it into a company town.
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 Ulsan. Ulsan's shipyard builds tankers, LNG carriers and FPSOs for international owners, and refineries and petrochemical projects use overseas contractors. IECEx gives them one certificate of conformity and a schedule of conditions to read. The IS-04Z1 has neither yet, because certification is in progress.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Ulsan
SAMS is appointing authorised distributors ahead of the Q4 2026 launch. No territory has been granted for Ulsan 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 Ulsan.
- 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 · Ulsan
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an IECEx mobile phone in Ulsan 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 mobile phone in Ulsan 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.
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 areas at Ulsan would use it?
Likely candidates are refinery process units, petrochemical plants, tank farms, shipyard tank and cargo-space work. 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 Ulsan?
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 Ulsan.
Which hazardous-area industries are concentrated in Ulsan?
Two very large refineries, petrochemical complexes, a major shipyard, an automobile plant and a growing hydrogen network. Gas, vapour and hydrogen areas are the typical concerns, and each operator classifies its own plant, so request zone drawings before using handheld devices.
Can shipyard work in Ulsan involve classified areas as well as refinery work?
Yes. Fuel and cargo tanks, paint stores, coating bays and hot-work areas can all be treated as hazardous locations. Shipyards usually issue gas-free and hot-work permits, so ask how portable devices are controlled under those permits.
Do shipyard and refinery requirements differ in Ulsan?
They can. Shipyards work in vessel tank and cargo spaces under permits for each vessel, while refineries classify fixed process areas, so approvals and markings may differ. The IS-04Z1 has no certificate yet. Ask each facility for its own device rules.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Other guides for Ulsan, other places in South Korea, and the pages behind them.
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in UlsanSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone in UlsanSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone Distributor in UlsanSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone in UlsanSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone in UlsanSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in UlsanSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in YeosuElsewhere in South Korea
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in PohangElsewhere in South Korea
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in DaesanElsewhere in South Korea
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in BusanElsewhere in South Korea
South Korea market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for South KoreaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Ulsan
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Ulsan, South Korea
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 · Ulsan
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Ulsan?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.