Refining
SK Energy and S-Oil operate refineries in Ulsan; S-Oil's Onsan refinery had about 650,000 barrels per day in 2016.
Ulsan · industrial
Industrial Smartphone in Ulsan
Ulsan is a south-east coastal industrial city of about 1.1 million people, with refineries, a petrochemical complex and the world's largest shipyard. Process plants, tank farms and shipyard work create extensive Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas. This page explains what to look for in an industrial smartphone for Ulsan, and where the IS-04Z1 stands against that list today.
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
DeviceSmartphone
RouteSpecification
WhereUlsan
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for Ulsan: 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.
At a glance · industrial
Checklist: industrial smartphone for Ulsan
| 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 | Ulsan: Refinery process units, Petrochemical plants, Tank farms | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Ulsan
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 Ulsan. 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 · Ulsan
Ulsan at a glance: who is there, what is classified
A short profile of the site and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
Operators and companies on site
- SK Energy
- S-Oil
- HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
Classified areas to expect
- Refinery process units
- Petrochemical plants
- Tank farms
- Shipyard tank and cargo-space work
Local conditions · Ulsan
Site conditions at Ulsan: what wears and what limits equipment
Expansion
S-Oil's Shaheen petrochemical project was planned for completion by 2026, bringing commissioning crews.
Field notes · Ulsan
More about Ulsan that matters for portable equipment
Ulsan: projects and investment
S-Oil is scheduled to complete the Shaheen Project, one of the world's largest petrochemical facilities with an investment of nine trillion won, by 2026, adding new process areas in Ulsan.
Ulsan: industry on the ground
Ulsan is described as South Korea's industrial powerhouse, hosting the world's largest automobile assembly plant, the world's largest shipyard and the world's third-largest oil refinery, which is owned by SK Energy.
Ulsan: people and language
Ulsan has more than 1.1 million residents and the highest GDP per capita of any region in South Korea, at about 65,352 dollars in 2020, with a deep pool of industrial technicians.
Ulsan: industry on the ground
The SK Energy refinery has a capacity of 840,000 barrels a day, and a slightly smaller 669,000 barrel a day S-Oil refinery is also in the city, so two very large refineries operate side by side.
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 Ulsan. A planned petrochemical project was due for completion by 2026, bringing commissioning crews alongside ordinary shift staff. Purchasing is normally handled by the operator or its maintenance contractors, so a managed fleet under EMM or MDM should be enrolled to the right contractor. Charging belongs in safe areas.
The route · specification
Specifying an industrial smartphone for Ulsan
A short checklist for anyone writing or reviewing the specification, with the IS-04Z1 status against each point.
Check on the paper
- Marking
- Equipment group, category, protection concept, gas group and temperature class, matched to the area drawing.
- Certificate and schedule
- A certificate number, issuing body and the schedule of conditions, not a brochure claim.
- Standards edition
- The IEC 60079 or national standard edition the certificate was issued against.
Check for the IS-04Z1
- Marking target
- II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4: a target, not yet a certificate.
- Certificate status
- IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and NEC 500 in progress; none issued.
- Operator approval
- Separate from the certificate and handled with the site operator.
Questions · Ulsan
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an industrial smartphone in Ulsan 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 industrial smartphone in Ulsan 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 areas at Ulsan would use it?
Likely candidates are refinery process units, petrochemical plants, tank farms, shipyard tank and cargo-space work. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
Is intrinsically safe the same as explosion proof?
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.
Is the Ulsan climate hard on handheld equipment?
Summers are hot and humid with heavy rain from April to September, and winters are cold but dry, with a January mean around 2 degrees. Typically users want good ingress protection, battery performance in cold weather, and cleaning routines in coastal air.
Why does hydrogen matter for equipment choice in Ulsan?
Hydrogen is in a more demanding gas group than most hydrocarbons, and Ulsan has 188 km of hydrogen pipelines and a green-hydrogen town project. Where hydrogen is present, operators typically specify the gas group, so check what the site requires before selecting devices.
Who usually buys equipment for Ulsan plants?
Purchasing is normally handled by the operator or its maintenance contractors, and permits follow the operator's own rules. SAMS has appointed no distributor. Ask the operator whether contractors may bring their own devices, and confirm with the site operator.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for Ulsan and for South Korea.
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone Distributor in UlsanSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in UlsanSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in UlsanSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone in UlsanSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Distributor in UlsanSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in UlsanSame 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 BusanElsewhere in South Korea
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in DaesanElsewhere in South Korea
South Korea market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for South KoreaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Ulsan
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Ulsan, 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 · Ulsan
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Ulsan?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.