Kochi on the Kerala coast has the BPCL Kochi Refinery at Ambalamugal, rated at 15.5 million tonnes a year, and Petronet LNG's regasification terminal at Puthuvype. Refining, petrochemical, LNG and crude import handling create Zone 1 areas. Distribution partners for Kochi, Kerala are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. Kochi, Kerala 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.
For the record, no certificate exists for the IS-04Z1 today. The programme is under way ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
| 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 | Kochi, Kerala: Single point mooring and crude pipelines, Petrochemical units, Refinery process units | Classified by the site operator |
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Kochi India. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
A short profile of the site and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
The Kochi Refinery is about 12 km east of the city, is operated by BPCL and produces fuels plus petrochemical products such as benzene and toluene. An offshore single point mooring commissioned in 2007 receives crude from very large crude carriers.
Petronet's Kochi terminal at Puthuvype was commissioned in August 2013 with 5 million tonnes a year capacity and two full-containment tanks.
Kochi has a tropical monsoon climate with annual temperatures of 23 to 31 degrees Celsius and moderate to high humidity all year.
Captive power plants of 26.3 and 17.8 megawatts, installed in 1991 and 1998, make the refinery self-sufficient in power.
The refinery was set up with a US partner, started construction in 1964 and brought its first unit on stream in September 1966, so its older units are over 55 years old.
The south-west monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain, annual rainfall is about 3,015 millimetres, and there are about 124 rainy days a year.
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 Kochi, Kerala. BPCL's refinery and Petronet's LNG terminal both use international contractors for shutdowns and projects. An IECEx certificate of conformity with its schedule of conditions is a common reference for them. SAMS is pursuing IECEx for the IS-04Z1, and no certificate has been issued.
A distributor for Kochi, Kerala would carry the IS-04Z1 after certification completes; the Q4 2026 launch is the planning date and no appointment has been made. SAMS reviews applicants one by one and prefers companies with their own Ex-competent technical and service staff, since certified devices must not be repaired outside approved channels.
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.
No price is published. While certification is in progress there is no list price and no committed lead time, and a supplier quoting a firm figure for an uncertified Ex handset is promising something it cannot stand behind. Indicative pre-launch pricing is issued in writing against a stated quantity and site.
No. The IECEx certificate is in progress and has not been issued. SAMS will publish the number when it exists.
Likely candidates are refinery process units, lng regasification and storage, single point mooring and crude pipelines, petrochemical units. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
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 Kochi, Kerala.
The refinery began operating in 1966 and has been expanded in phases. Older and newer units may have different area classifications and rules, so ask the operator unit by unit.
A refinery has process units, tank farms and loading areas, and the LNG terminal has storage tanks and jetty areas, all with classified zones set by the operator. Request the area classification before bringing devices.
Heavy rain and humidity make sealing, drainage and corrosion resistance important for devices carried outdoors. A sealed IP68 design helps, and users should still dry and inspect it after wet shifts. Ask the operator about any limits on using handhelds outdoors in heavy rain.
More on Kochi India, and on other places in India.
Tell us what you need to equip and where. The SAMS team answers by email with the datasheet and where each certification route stands.
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.
