United Kingdom: rules and approvals
Since 1 October 2024 CE marking has been recognised in Great Britain without an end date, so ATEX-certified products can be sold there without UKCA, while Northern Ireland still requires CE.
United Kingdom · industrial
Industrial Cell Phone Distributor in United Kingdom
The IS-04Z1 is an intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 work, from a North Sea deck to a gas governor kiosk at the end of a street. UK crude oil and condensate production had fallen to about 630,000 barrels a day by 2024, so much of the current work is maintenance, life extension and decommissioning of mature installations. Distribution partners for United Kingdom 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 topicindustrial
DeviceCell Phone
RouteDistribution
WhereUnited Kingdom
Short answer. United Kingdom 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 · industrial
Checklist: industrial cell phone for United Kingdom
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Ingress protection | IP rating for dust and water | IP68 design |
| Fleet management | EMM and MDM support | Android 16 with EMM and MDM |
| Explosion protection | A separate certificate and marking | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | United Kingdom: Sullom Voe, Grangemouth, Fawley | Classified by the site operator |
Product · United Kingdom
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 United Kingdom. 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 · United Kingdom
Hazardous-area industry in United Kingdom
The main operators, industrial areas and sites that the SAMS United Kingdom market guide covers.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Harbour Energy
- One of the largest producers on the UK continental shelf.
- Adura
- Shell and Equinor joint venture with interests in Mariner, Clair, Shearwater and Buzzard (operators vary by field).
- Ithaca Energy
- Operator and partner across central and northern North Sea hubs.
- EnQuest
- Operates Magnus and the Sullom Voe terminal.
- Serica Energy
- Operates the Bruce, Keith and Rhum fields.
- Wood
- Aberdeen engineering, maintenance and shutdown contractor.
Industrial areas and sites
- Aberdeen
- Supply base, heliports and the offshore contractor market.
- St Fergus
- Reception terminal for northern North Sea gas pipelines.
- Sullom Voe
- Shetland oil and gas terminal with export jetties.
- Grangemouth
- INEOS petrochemical complex and the fuels import terminal.
- Fawley
- ExxonMobil refinery and petrochemicals on Southampton Water.
- Stanlow
- Refinery and the Mersey chemical corridor.
Field notes · United Kingdom
More about United Kingdom that matters for portable equipment
United Kingdom: rules and approvals
Great Britain applies SI 2016 No. 1107, the UK version of the ATEX rules, so equipment for explosive atmospheres is assessed by UK approved bodies and carries UKCA marking and a body number.
United Kingdom: geography and layout
Historically most UK gas came from Morecambe Bay and the Southern North Sea off East Anglia and Lincolnshire, both now in decline, while oil comes mainly from the Central Graben of the North Sea.
United Kingdom: industry on the ground
Around 39 billion barrels of oil equivalent have been extracted from the UK Continental Shelf over four decades, and Brent crude from the British North Sea remains a major international price benchmark.
The term · industrial
What “industrial” means for a smartphone
“Industrial” describes a phone built for plant conditions: sealed, drop-resistant and manageable at fleet scale through Android Enterprise. It does not by itself mean the phone may enter a classified area. Only a device with a valid explosion-protection certificate and marking may do that.
The IS-04Z1 is designed to be both an industrial Android phone (IP68, 4,000 mAh battery, 50 MP camera, Android 16 with EMM and MDM support) and an intrinsically safe one. Its explosion-protection certificates are in progress and have not been issued.
In United Kingdom. UK fleets cover offshore platforms, terminals, gas distribution networks and the contractor market, so IT teams want to enrol, restrict and update handsets alongside their other devices. Android 16 with EMM and MDM support allows this. Charging happens at handover in a safe area rather than halfway through a twelve-hour shift.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in United Kingdom
A distributor for United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom.
- 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 · United Kingdom
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an industrial cell phone in United Kingdom 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 industrial cell phone in United Kingdom 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.
Is the IS-04Z1 an industrial phone as well as an Ex phone?
Yes by design: IP68 sealing, a 4,000 mAh battery, a 50 MP camera and Android 16 with EMM and MDM support. The explosion-protection certificates are separate and still in progress.
Which sites in United Kingdom does this cover?
The market guide for United Kingdom covers Aberdeen, St Fergus, Sullom Voe, Grangemouth, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for United Kingdom?
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 United Kingdom.
What does DSEAR mean for choosing a phone for UK plants?
DSEAR places duties on employers to classify areas where explosive atmospheres may occur and to avoid ignition sources from unprotected equipment. A site will therefore expect devices used in classified areas to be suitable for the zone, gas group and temperature class stated in its area classification records.
Is CE-marked ATEX equipment accepted in Great Britain?
Yes. Since 1 October 2024 CE marking has been recognised in Great Britain without an end date, so an ATEX-certified product can be sold there without UKCA, although a UKCA route with a UK approved body also exists. Northern Ireland still requires CE. Check the current rules before shipping.
How does the IS-04Z1 cope with patchy coverage on a UK platform or rural site?
It combines 4G LTE, Wi-Fi and four-constellation GNSS to hold a position and a connection where one network is not enough. Actual coverage depends on the site, so test the unit on your own route before relying on it.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on United Kingdom, and on other places in United Kingdom.
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in United KingdomSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone in United KingdomSame place, different guide
UKEX Mobile Phone in United KingdomSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in United KingdomSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in United KingdomSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone Distributor in United KingdomSame place, different guide
United Kingdom market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for United KingdomEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · United Kingdom
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for United Kingdom
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · United Kingdom
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for United Kingdom?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.