South Africa: industry on the ground
South Africa is the world's largest producer of chrome, manganese, platinum and vanadium and the third-largest coal exporter, so mining is a major source of hazardous-area work.
South Africa · IECEx
IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier in South Africa
A Zone 1 / Zone 21 smartphone for crews at the Secunda and Sasolburg complexes, the Natref and Cape Town refineries, Mossel Bay, the fuel terminals and the surface plants of South African mining. This page sets out how an IECEx mobile phone supply route to South Africa will work for the IS-04Z1, and what is and is not available before launch.
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
RouteSupply
WhereSouth Africa
Short answer. An IECEx mobile phone for South Africa cannot be bought yet: the SAMS IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued), and the datasheet, certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
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 mobile phone for South Africa
| 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 | South Africa: Durban, Richards Bay, Secunda, Mpumalanga | Classified by the site operator |
Product · South Africa
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 South Africa. 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 · South Africa
Where this applies in South Africa
The classified areas, operators and sites below are the ones covered in the SAMS South Africa market guide.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Sasol
- Synthetic fuels and chemicals at Secunda and Sasolburg
- Natref
- The inland refinery at Sasolburg
- Astron Energy
- The Cape Town refinery and fuel distribution
- PetroSA
- The gas to liquids complex at Mossel Bay
- Transnet Pipelines
- Fuel pipelines and terminals between Durban and Gauteng
- Eskom
- Coal-fired power stations and their coal handling plants
Industrial areas and sites
- Secunda, Mpumalanga
- Synthetic fuels and chemicals complex
- Sasolburg, Free State
- Chemicals production and the Natref refinery
- Milnerton, Cape Town
- The Astron Energy refinery
- Mossel Bay, Western Cape
- Gas to liquids complex and offshore gas
- Durban
- Fuel import terminals, tank farms and the chemical cluster
- Richards Bay
- Coal export terminal and bulk liquid storage
Field notes · South Africa
More about South Africa that matters for portable equipment
South Africa: rules and approvals
The code references a family of SANS standards, including SANS 10086 on installation, inspection and maintenance of equipment in explosive atmospheres, SANS 1489 on connectors and SANS 1515 on gas measuring equipment for mines.
South Africa: rules and approvals
ICASA, based in Centurion, sets radio type approval, relying on EU test reports for spectrum, EMC and electrical safety, and a conformity label must be affixed to the equipment and the packaging.
South Africa: rules and approvals
South Africa has a National Code of Practice for Electrical Machinery in Hazardous Locations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1993, with a section on regulatory requirements for explosion-protected apparatus.
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 South Africa. IECEx is the foundation for South Africa: the IS-04Z1 IECEx programme is in progress, and the South African Ex certificate is planned to follow it. For international contractors visiting Secunda or Sasolburg, a certificate of conformity with its schedule of conditions would be the reference document, read alongside the local approval once available.
The route · supply
Sourcing the IS-04Z1 for South Africa
Supply of the IS-04Z1 to South Africa starts only after certification, through authorised distributors. Until then a buyer can request the datasheet and the written certification schedule, and arrange a safe-area evaluation unit, which puts the site on the list for the right local channel at launch.
- 01
Request the datasheet
The technical specification, marking target and conditions of use, sent by email.
- 02
Ask for the certification schedule
Which certificates are in progress, in what order, and what is still to be confirmed.
- 03
Evaluate in a safe area
Evaluation units can be used for connectivity, MDM enrolment and workflow testing outside classified areas.
- 04
Register for launch
Tell us the site, zone, gas group and quantity so the right authorised distributor can contact you.
Questions · South Africa
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an IECEx mobile phone in South Africa 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 an IECEx mobile phone in South Africa 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 sites in South Africa does this cover?
The market guide for South Africa covers Secunda, Mpumalanga, Sasolburg, Free State, Milnerton, Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Western Cape, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How will SAMS supply South Africa?
Through authorised distributors once certificates exist. Until then SAMS can send the datasheet and certification schedule and arrange safe-area evaluation units.
Which South African authority approves radios and phones?
ICASA sets radio type approval, and it is described as relying on EU test reports covering spectrum use, EMC and electrical safety, with a conformity label on the equipment and packaging. SABS and NRCS handle some electrical-safety certificates separately. Confirm the route for your device with ICASA or an agent.
What conditions affect devices at South African mines and plants?
Conditions vary from hot, dusty surface sites to deep underground workings with heat and humidity. Check ingress protection, operating temperature range and battery life, and confirm site rules on device approval and gas detection with the mine or plant operator.
How would the handset cope with highveld temperature swings?
IP68 sealing and a rugged build are aimed at hot summers, cold winter mornings and dusty conditions. The approved ambient range will be stated on the certificate, which is in progress. Check that range against the coldest morning shift at your site before ordering.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on South Africa, and on other places in South Africa.
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone Supplier in South AfricaSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in South AfricaSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in South AfricaSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone in South AfricaSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in South AfricaSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Supplier in South AfricaSame place, different guide
South Africa market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for South AfricaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · South Africa
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for South Africa
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 · South Africa
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for South Africa?
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.