Ireland: who works there
Irving Oil runs Ireland's only oil refinery, at Whitegate in County Cork.
Ireland · intrinsically safe
Intrinsically Safe Smartphone Distributor in Ireland
The IS-04Z1 is an intrinsically safe Android handset designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21, aimed at the solvent suites and powder rooms of the Irish pharmaceutical cluster, and at the refinery, gas terminal and alumina plant that make up the rest. Vermilion Energy became operator of the Corrib project in 2018 and the majority owner in 2021, so contractor induction and device approval at Bellanaboy follow that operator's procedures. An intrinsically safe smartphone distributor in Ireland would carry the IS-04Z1 to these buyers once certification completes.
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 topicintrinsically safe
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereIreland
Short answer. Ireland 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.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · intrinsically safe
Checklist: intrinsically safe smartphone for Ireland
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Level of protection | ia, ib or ic matched to the zone | ib, for Zone 1 |
| Entity parameters | Uo, Io and Po within the device limits | Published with the certificate |
| Accessories | Chargers and cases certified with the device | Defined at certification |
| Where it applies | Ireland: Little Island and Carrigaline, Shannon Estuary, Grange Castle and Clondalkin | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Ireland
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 Ireland. 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 · Ireland
Where this applies in Ireland
The classified areas, operators and sites below are the ones covered in the SAMS Ireland market guide.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Irving Oil
- Whitegate refinery in Cork Harbour, the only refinery in the state.
- Aughinish Alumina
- The largest alumina refinery in Europe, on the Shannon Estuary.
- Pfizer
- Active ingredient and biologics plants at Ringaskiddy and Grange Castle.
- MSD
- Sites at Brinny, Ballydine, Carlow and Dunboyne.
- Eli Lilly
- Active ingredient manufacturing at Dunderrow near Kinsale.
- Janssen Sciences Ireland
- Biologics manufacturing at Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour.
Industrial areas and sites
- Ringaskiddy
- Pharmaceutical and biologics plants on the lower harbour.
- Whitegate
- Refinery, crude jetty and product storage in Cork Harbour.
- Little Island and Carrigaline
- Chemical, pharmaceutical and industrial estates east of Cork.
- Shannon Estuary
- Aughinish, Foynes and the deep-water industrial berths.
- Grange Castle and Clondalkin
- Dublin biopharma campuses and process plants.
- Bellanaboy
- Corrib gas terminal and pipeline landfall in north Mayo.
Field notes · Ireland
More about Ireland that matters for portable equipment
Ireland: geography and layout
The Corrib gas field lies about 83 km off the north-west coast of County Mayo and is Ireland's only domestic source of natural gas, so the Mayo coast is the country's main upstream gas location.
Ireland: infrastructure
Moneypoint on the Shannon estuary, commissioned 1985-1987 and Ireland's largest power station at 915 MW, stopped burning coal in June 2025 and is due to run as a heavy-oil back-up plant until 2029.
Ireland: rules and approvals
Directive 2014/34/EU replaced the earlier 94/9/EC equipment directive and became mandatory for manufacturers on 20 April 2016, so older Ex devices may carry earlier markings.
The term · intrinsically safe
What “intrinsically safe” means for a smartphone
Intrinsic safety limits the electrical and thermal energy in a circuit so that neither a spark nor a hot surface can ignite a gas or dust atmosphere, even when a fault occurs. The ib level, used for Zone 1, tolerates one fault. It is the usual way to make a handheld device that a worker carries continuously through a hazardous area.
The IS-04Z1 is designed on this principle for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4). Intrinsic safety is a design basis, not a certificate: certification is in progress and none has been issued yet.
In Ireland. Pharmaceutical staff in Ringaskiddy or Grange Castle may enter solvent suites many times a shift, and refinery or terminal crews cross zones on rounds. An intrinsically safe handheld lets them record checks at the point of work. That is the design intent, pending certification and the site's approval.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Ireland
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Ireland. Each application is reviewed on its merits. Because opening a certified Ex handset in an ordinary workshop invalidates its certificate, the partner must be able to support and service the device locally.
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 Ireland.
- 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 · Ireland
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an intrinsically safe smartphone in Ireland today?
Not today. Until the certificates are issued the IS-04Z1 stays out of classified areas, and until launch there is nothing to purchase. You can ask for the datasheet and the certification schedule, or book a safe-area evaluation unit.
What does an intrinsically safe smartphone in Ireland cost?
SAMS has not published a price. Any figure you are offered for an uncertified Ex phone should be treated with caution; written indicative pricing is available for a defined quantity and site.
What does ‘intrinsically safe’ mean for the IS-04Z1?
The circuits are designed to limit energy so a spark or hot surface cannot ignite a gas or dust atmosphere, even with one fault (level ib, Zone 1). Certification of that design is in progress.
Which sites in Ireland does this cover?
The market guide for Ireland covers Ringaskiddy, Whitegate, Little Island and Carrigaline, Shannon Estuary, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Ireland?
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 Ireland.
Where is Ireland's main hazardous-area gas site?
The Corrib gas field off County Mayo, with its onshore processing plant at Bellanaboy, is Ireland's only domestic gas production source. Other hazardous areas include fuel terminals, power stations and chemical or pharmaceutical plants. Request the operator's zone drawings before planning device use.
Who approves contractors' devices at Bellanaboy?
The project operator, currently Vermilion Energy, sets contractor and equipment requirements for the Corrib onshore plant, normally through its HSE team. Contact the site HSE office for the current induction, device registration and certificate requirements before travelling.
Can a handset be used in a pharmaceutical solvent suite?
That depends on the zone, gas group and the site's rules. The device would need a marking suited to the classified room, and the site may add its own IT, cleaning and data rules. Ask the site's HSE team to review the evidence before bringing any device in.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for Ireland and for Ireland.
Rugged Mobile Phone in IrelandSame place, different guide
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone in IrelandSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier in IrelandSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in IrelandSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone in IrelandSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone in IrelandSame place, different guide
Ireland market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for IrelandEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Ireland
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Ireland
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · Ireland
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Ireland?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.