Kazakhstan: rules and approvals
Under TR CU 012/2011 the applicant must be registered in a member state, testing is done by bodies in the union's unified register, and ATEX or IECEx certificates are not accepted in place of it.
Kazakhstan · IECEx
IECEx Smartphone Distributor in Kazakhstan
A Zone 1 / Zone 21 smartphone for crews at Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak, the Atyrau, Pavlodar and Shymkent refineries and the coal and metals industry of Karaganda and Ekibastuz. Kashagan was discovered in 2000 in the northern Caspian near Atyrau and holds recoverable reserves of about 13 billion barrels, making it one of the largest discoveries of recent decades. An IECEx smartphone distributor in Kazakhstan 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
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereKazakhstan
Short answer. Kazakhstan 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. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx smartphone for Kazakhstan
| 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 | Kazakhstan: Kashagan and Bolashak, North Caspian, Karachaganak, West Kazakhstan, Pavlodar and Shymkent | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Kazakhstan
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 Kazakhstan. 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 · Kazakhstan
Where this applies in Kazakhstan
The classified areas, operators and sites below are the ones covered in the SAMS Kazakhstan market guide.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- KazMunayGas
- National oil and gas company: production, refining and pipelines
- Tengizchevroil
- Chevron-led operator of the Tengiz field
- North Caspian Operating Company
- Operator of the offshore Kashagan field
- Karachaganak Petroleum Operating
- Operator of the Karachaganak gas condensate field
- QazaqGaz
- National gas company: processing and gas pipelines
- Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries
- Polypropylene production in the Atyrau region
Industrial areas and sites
- Tengiz, Atyrau region
- The Tengiz field and its sour gas processing plants
- Atyrau
- Refinery, petrochemicals and the western industrial hub
- Kashagan and Bolashak, North Caspian
- Offshore islands and the onshore Bolashak plant
- Karachaganak, West Kazakhstan
- Gas condensate processing near Aksai
- Pavlodar and Shymkent
- Refineries and product storage
- Karaganda coal basin
- Coal mines, coal processing and steel
Field notes · Kazakhstan
More about Kazakhstan that matters for portable equipment
Kazakhstan: rules and approvals
Telecommunications matters, including radio-frequency conversion procedures, are handled by the Telecommunications Committee within the ministry responsible for digital development.
Kazakhstan: climate and equipment wear
At the offshore Kashagan field, temperatures range from minus 35 to 40 degrees Celsius, with winter sea ice, very shallow water and high hydrogen sulphide levels.
Kazakhstan: industry on the ground
The Tengiz field in Atyrau Region was discovered in 1979 and covers a licence area of 2,500 square kilometres on the low-lying wetland shore of the Caspian Sea.
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 Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's large fields, such as Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak, work with international consortia and contractors who know IECEx. A certificate of conformity names the equipment, and its schedule of conditions sets conditions of use. IECEx certification for the IS-04Z1 is in progress; EAC Ex follows it.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Kazakhstan
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Kazakhstan. 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 Kazakhstan.
- 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 · Kazakhstan
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an IECEx smartphone in Kazakhstan 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 smartphone in Kazakhstan 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 Kazakhstan does this cover?
The market guide for Kazakhstan covers Tengiz, Atyrau region, Atyrau, Kashagan and Bolashak, North Caspian, Karachaganak, West Kazakhstan, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Kazakhstan?
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 Kazakhstan.
Do I need EAC certification for equipment used in Kazakhstan?
Equipment for explosive atmospheres falls under the Eurasian Economic Union regulation TR CU 012/2011, where certification is mandatory, self-declaration is not accepted and ATEX or IECEx certificates do not replace it. The applicant must be registered in a member state. Confirm requirements with an accredited EAEU certification body.
Who regulates radio equipment in Kazakhstan?
Telecommunications matters, including radio-frequency procedures, are handled by the Telecommunications Committee under the ministry responsible for digital development. Whether a specific phone needs notification or registration depends on its radio technologies, so check current requirements with the committee or a local representative before importing.
Is EAC Ex needed in Kazakhstan?
The market guide says EAC Ex certification under TR CU 012/2011 is required and planned after IECEx. It has not been granted. Ask the operator which approvals it needs, and check the current certification status before placing any order.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for Kazakhstan and for Kazakhstan.
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone Supplier in KazakhstanSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier in KazakhstanSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone Distributor in KazakhstanSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in KazakhstanSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier in KazakhstanSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone in KazakhstanSame place, different guide
Kazakhstan market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for KazakhstanEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Kazakhstan
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Kazakhstan
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 · Kazakhstan
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Kazakhstan?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.