Zone 1 gas at receiving terminals and generation fuel systems
LNG unloading, storage, regasification and generation fuel-gas systems are classified Zone 1 gas atmospheres, and Ex ib IIC T4 covers the hydrocarbon gas groups present across that chain.
Japan · Power & LNG
Explosion proof mobile phone for power and LNG in Japan
Japan runs one of the world's largest LNG import chains, and an explosion proof mobile phone for power and LNG in Japan serves coastal terminals and the gas-fired power stations beside them. This page is for the HSE, maintenance and telecoms teams who decide what may be carried into a terminal or generating station. The IS-04Z1 is designed around intrinsic safety rather than a flameproof enclosure.
Launching Q4 2026 · IECEx and JIS programme in progress
Local approvalTIIS · IECExIECEx · TIIS in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Why it fits power and LNG
Built for the world's largest LNG import chain
Japan's power sector depends on LNG imports at a scale unmatched anywhere else, running an extensive network of coastal receiving terminals feeding gas-fired generation.
Cryogenic exposure at unloading and regasification
LNG unloading arms and regasification equipment introduce cold-temperature exposure alongside the gas hazard, and the device's environmental testing is specified with that combination in mind rather than a purely hot or temperate-climate assumption.
A dense network of coastal terminals, not one facility
Japan's LNG import infrastructure spans many terminals along the coastline, a distributed footprint where a single device standard simplifies procurement compared with evaluating equipment terminal by terminal.
Seismic and coastal weather resilience
Japan's frequent seismic activity and exposure to typhoons place a premium on equipment ruggedness beyond what a more geologically stable region's power sector needs to consider.
Fleet management across a distributed LNG-to-power chain
EMM and MDM enrolment supports an operator managing devices across multiple coastal terminals and generation sites from one console.
Who runs it
Power and LNG operators in Japan
Japan's LNG import and gas-fired power sector is led by major utility and trading-linked operators.
- JERA
- Japan's largest power generator, with major LNG import and thermal generation assets.
- Typical classified areas
- LNG unloading arms, storage tanks, regasification units, generation fuel-gas systems.
- Scale
- Japan is one of the world’s largest LNG importers by volume.
- Certification target
- IECEx Certificate of Conformity as the international basis, alongside JIS-referenced marking.
The sites
Explosion proof mobile phone use across Japan's LNG terminals and power stations
Japan imports LNG at terminals around its coast, many sited beside the power stations they feed. JERA's Futtsu site in Chiba, for instance, combines a large thermal power station with an LNG terminal, and JERA also operates Hekinan and Chita in Aichi. JAPEX's Soma terminal in Fukushima Prefecture began operating in 2017. Hazards include natural gas around unloading arms, tank roofs, vaporisers and fuel-gas trains, hydrogen around generator cooling and, at some stations, ammonia or coal handling. Check the classification drawing at each site; it governs what a device may do and where.
Operators and sites
- JERA
- Futtsu, Hekinan, Chita, Kashima and other thermal sites.
- JAPEX
- Soma LNG terminal in Fukushima Prefecture.
- Other utilities
- Own LNG terminals and generating stations.
- Receiving terminals
- Jetties, storage tanks and vaporisers.
- Gas-fired stations
- Fuel-gas trains and turbine halls.
Typical classified areas
- Unloading arms
- Cold liquid and vapour at the jetty.
- Tank roofs and pump wells
- Vapour at vents and in-tank pump columns.
- Vaporisers
- Gas at pressure with cold surfaces nearby.
- Fuel-gas trains
- Gas near turbines and boilers.
- Generator hydrogen systems
- Hydrogen around seals and purge equipment.
Use cases
How work is organised at terminals and stations
Cargo01
Ship discharge
Shore and ship staff coordinate transfer over many hours, with checks at the arms and on the tanks. A handset designed for the jetty area keeps photographs, logs and calls on one managed device.
Outage02
Unit overhaul
Planned outages bring large contractor numbers into turbine halls and fuel-gas areas. Enrolled handsets carry the permit and reporting apps and can be cleared when the outage ends.
Rounds03
Plant walkdowns
Operators record gauge readings on fixed routes through the plant. The handset adds a photograph and a GNSS position to each entry in place of a paper sheet.
Questions · Power & LNG
Frequently asked questions
Is the IS-04Z1 certified for use at LNG terminals in Japan yet?
No. The device is pre-launch and certification, including IECEx and JIS-referenced marking, is still in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
Does the device need special certification for cryogenic exposure?
Ex certification covers the gas-hazard classification of the area; separate environmental testing addresses cold-exposure durability, and the certificate will state its exact scope once issued.
Does the device suit Japan's seismic activity?
Ruggedness testing accounts for shock and vibration exposure broadly consistent with seismic and severe-weather conditions, though specific site engineering requirements should always be confirmed.
Does one device cover both LNG terminals and gas-fired power plants?
Yes, the design intent is a single Zone 1 specification covering both the coastal LNG receiving infrastructure and the generation fuel-gas systems it feeds.
Is Japan the world's largest LNG importer?
Japan is one of the largest importers, though China has overtaken it in recent years. The terminals and stations covered here remain significant, and the hazards are the same whatever the ranking.
Which operators run LNG terminals in Japan?
JERA and JAPEX are named on this site, and other utilities and gas companies run their own terminals. Ask each operator what it expects.
Does cold matter to a handset at a terminal?
Surfaces near cryogenic equipment can be very cold, and the handset is not intended to touch them. Check the ambient temperature range on the certificate against the site's conditions.
Is hydrogen present at power stations?
Many stations use hydrogen to cool generators, a Group IIC gas. The IS-04Z1 marking target is Ex ib IIC T4, subject to the certificate once issued.
Enquiry · Power & LNG
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Power & LNG, Japan
Tell us the site, the zone and gas group, and roughly how many handsets. The SAMS team replies by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule for Japan. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch and certification is in progress, so there is no list price yet; indicative pricing is issued in writing against a stated quantity and site.
Enquiry · Power & LNG
Launching Q4 2026
Evaluating the IS-04Z1 for this site?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule for your market.