Steelworks
POSCO's Pohang plant was dedicated in 1973 and POSCO runs two integrated steelworks, at Pohang and Gwangyang.
Pohang · IECEx
IECEx Smartphone Distributor in Pohang
Pohang is North Gyeongsang's largest city, with about 491,000 residents, on the East Sea coast beside Yeongil Bay. It is headquarters of POSCO, which has an integrated steelworks there, and steel plant gas systems and dust create classified areas. Distribution partners for Pohang 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
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WherePohang
Short answer. Pohang 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. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx smartphone for Pohang
| 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 | Pohang: Steelworks process gas systems, Coke-making and by-product gas, Steel plant dust areas | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Pohang
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 Pohang. 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 · Pohang
Pohang: 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
- POSCO
Classified areas to expect
- Steelworks process gas systems
- Coke-making and by-product gas
- Steel plant dust areas
Local conditions · Pohang
Conditions in Pohang that affect handheld equipment
Port
Yeongil Bay supports a port that handled 54.8 million tonnes in 2006.
Field notes · Pohang
More about Pohang that matters for portable equipment
Pohang: industry on the ground
POSCO's Pohang works runs three remaining blast furnaces after the first was shut down in December 2021, alongside basic oxygen and electric arc furnace routes.
Pohang: background
After four expansion phases the Pohang plant's crude steel capacity rose from 1.03 million tonnes a year at start-up to 9.1 million tonnes by 1983.
Pohang: background
The local economy has combined iron, steel, shipbuilding and fisheries, and the city is now trying to diversify away from heavy industry towards advanced learning, environmental projects and culture.
Pohang: geography and layout
Pohang is the largest city in North Gyeongsang Province, with 499,363 residents in 2022, on Yeongil Bay at the mouth of the Hyeongsan River facing the East 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 Pohang. POSCO is a global steel company with plant-engineering contractors and equipment suppliers from abroad. IECEx is a familiar reference for them, with a certificate of conformity and a schedule of conditions. The IS-04Z1 has neither yet, because certification is still in progress.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Pohang
A distributor for Pohang 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.
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 Pohang.
- 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 · Pohang
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an IECEx smartphone in Pohang 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 smartphone in Pohang 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 areas at Pohang would use it?
Likely candidates are steelworks process gas systems, coke-making and by-product gas, steel plant dust areas. 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 Pohang?
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 Pohang.
Is Pohang humid or cold enough to affect equipment?
Winters are mild by Korean standards, with a January mean near 2 degrees, while summers reach about 26 degrees with the heaviest rain in August. Sea air and humidity are the main concerns, so devices typically need good sealing and routine cleaning.
How do I get equipment to Pohang?
Pohang is on the East Sea coast with a shipping port and road links, and most equipment arrives by road from other Korean ports or airports. Allow time for customs clearance and for site gate checks on electronic devices at the steelworks.
Do steelworks gases need a different marking from oil and gas sites?
They can. Coke-making and by-product gas systems may contain gases such as hydrogen or carbon monoxide, which affect the gas group needed, and plant dust areas need a dust classification. The IS-04Z1 has no certificate yet. Ask POSCO which gas and dust groups apply.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for Pohang and for South Korea.
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone in PohangSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone in PohangSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Distributor in PohangSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in PohangSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in PohangSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone Distributor in PohangSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in YeosuElsewhere in South Korea
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in IncheonElsewhere in South Korea
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in UlsanElsewhere 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 · Pohang
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Pohang, South Korea
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 · Pohang
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Pohang?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.