Petronas: background
The first oil well in Malaysia was drilled at Miri in Sarawak in 1910, known as the Grand Old Lady, which shows a long industrial history in north Borneo and ageing facilities in places.
Petronas · intrinsically safe
Intrinsically Safe Smartphone for Petronas
PETRONAS is Malaysia's state-owned oil and gas company, integrated across exploration, production, refining, gas, LNG and petrochemicals. Its Malaysian sites include the Kertih petrochemical complex, Bintulu LNG, Melaka refining and the Pengerang integrated complex. This page explains what to look for in an intrinsically safe smartphone for Petronas, 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 topicintrinsically safe
DeviceSmartphone
RouteSpecification
WherePetronas
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for Petronas: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · intrinsically safe
Checklist: intrinsically safe smartphone for Petronas
| 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 | Petronas: Refinery process units, Petrochemical complexes, Gas processing plants | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Malaysia
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 Malaysia. 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 organisation · Petronas
Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) and the IS-04Z1
Where it operates and the kinds of classified area a handset would meet there.
Sites and areas
- Kertih (Terengganu)
- Bintulu (Sarawak)
- Melaka
- Pengerang (Johor)
Classified areas
- Refinery process units
- Petrochemical complexes
- Gas processing plants
- Offshore platforms
Supplier approval · Petronas
Supplier registration at Petronas
Suppliers apply for a PETRONAS licence or registration through the PETRONAS Licensing Management System (PLMS), then trade through its procurement platforms such as the Unified Procurement Platform and B2B Marketplace. A licence covers upstream and downstream supply; a registration covers downstream subsidiaries only. The Ex certificate and an organisation's own vendor or engineering approval are two separate timelines; SAMS is working towards both and holds neither today.
Field notes · Petronas
More about Petronas that matters for portable equipment
Petronas: logistics and access
Petronas made its first crude shipment, 358,000 barrels to Japan, on 1 September 1975, and its lubricants subsidiary now operates in over 100 markets, indicating strong export and marine logistics.
Petronas: who works there
Petronas Carigali, formed in 1978, is the principal exploration and production subsidiary, with Petronas Dagangan and Petronas Chemicals handling marketing and petrochemicals, so each business unit runs its own sites.
Petronas: background
Petronas was established and incorporated on 17 August 1974 under the Petroleum Development Act, and is vested with all oil and gas resources in Malaysia, so it is the licensor as well as an operator.
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 Petronas. Operators on offshore platforms and at LNG liquefaction trains cover long, multi-level routes with checks at many points. A handheld intrinsically safe phone allows tag scanning, photographs and defect reports inside the classified area. It would support turnaround work at Melaka, Kertih and Pengerang, where large contractor crews work close to live process units.
The route · specification
Specifying an intrinsically safe smartphone for Petronas
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 · Petronas
Frequently asked questions
Can Petronas buy the IS-04Z1 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 for Petronas 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.
How does Petronas approve suppliers?
Suppliers apply for a PETRONAS licence or registration through the PETRONAS Licensing Management System (PLMS), then trade through its procurement platforms such as the Unified Procurement Platform and B2B Marketplace. A licence covers upstream and downstream supply; a registration covers downstream subsidiaries only.
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.
How do suppliers register with Petronas?
Petronas runs a vendor registration and licensing process for suppliers and contractors, and its business units apply their own technical assessment. Details change, so confirm the current registration route and product categories directly with Petronas procurement before offering equipment.
Which Petronas sites typically need intrinsically safe phones?
Typical Zone 1 and Zone 2 sites include offshore platforms, gas processing and LNG facilities such as Bintulu, refineries, petrochemical plants and fuel terminals. Classification is site-specific, so ask the operating unit's HSE team for area classification drawings and its rules for portable electronics.
Does a supplier need a PETRONAS licence to sell a handheld device?
PETRONAS says suppliers apply for a licence or registration through its licensing system. A licence covers upstream and downstream supply, while a registration covers downstream subsidiaries only. Check current requirements with PETRONAS. SAMS has appointed no distributor, and the IS-04Z1 has no certificate yet.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Other guides for Petronas, other places in Malaysia, and the pages behind them.
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for PetronasSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier for PetronasSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone for PetronasSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Supplier for PetronasSame place, different guide
Malaysia market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for MalaysiaEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Petronas
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Petronas, Malaysia
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 · Petronas
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Petronas?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.