Kazakhstan: rules and approvals
Kazakhstan applies TR CU 012/2011, the Eurasian Economic Union technical regulation, to equipment for explosive atmospheres; certification is mandatory and self-declaration is not allowed.
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. This page explains what to look for in an industrial smartphone for Kazakhstan, and where the IS-04Z1 stands against that list today.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for Kazakhstan: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
Current position: certification in progress, nothing issued, launch targeted for Q4 2026. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
| 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 | Kazakhstan: Tengiz, Atyrau region, Atyrau, Kashagan and Bolashak, North Caspian | Classified by the site operator |

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.
Operators and classified areas drawn from the SAMS Kazakhstan market guide.
Kazakhstan applies TR CU 012/2011, the Eurasian Economic Union technical regulation, to equipment for explosive atmospheres; certification is mandatory and self-declaration is not allowed.
Atyrau, 350 kilometres north of Tengiz, is the main transport hub for Tengiz oil, so road, rail and air links through Atyrau shape logistics for the western fields.
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.
Telecommunications matters, including radio-frequency conversion procedures, are handled by the Telecommunications Committee within the ministry responsible for digital development.
“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 Kazakhstan. Kazakh operations involve national companies, international consortia and many contractors, so EMM or MDM enrolment helps provision devices per contract. The IS-04Z1 is designed for managed deployment. Sites hundreds of kilometres from a city need a connectivity and charging plan agreed with the site team.
A short checklist for anyone writing or reviewing the specification, with the IS-04Z1 status against each point.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Not exactly. Explosion proof is a broad everyday term; intrinsic safety is one protection concept, which limits energy so ignition cannot occur. Flameproof (Ex d) is a different concept that contains an explosion. The IS-04Z1 is intrinsically safe by design.
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.
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.
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 for Kazakhstan and 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.
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.