RINO Solutions · Certified Ex case
RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch
- Discontinued
- Zone 2/22
- IECEx
- IIC
- T4
Discontinued. Its IECEx certificate was cancelled in 2025.
The RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch is a restricted-breathing (Ex nR) case for the iPad (9th generation) 10.2-inch, certified for Zone 2/22 under IECEx. The tablet inside is a standard iPad (9th generation) 10.2-inch running iPadOS 27, so it works with the same apps and device management. It has been discontinued.
- Certified for
- Zone 2/22
- Protection
- Restricted-breathing enclosure (Ex nR)
- Screen
- 10.2-inch
- Temperature class
- T4 (≤ 135 °C)
- Ambient temperature
- −20 °C to +40 °C (standard range: no Ta is marked on IECEx EXV 22.0019X, so IEC 60079-0 applies)Unconfirmed, see note 1
- Operating system
- iPadOS 27
- Security updates
- Ended September 2026
- Price
- On request
Overview
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- A standard iPad (9th generation) 10.2-inch inside, with the same apps and Apple device management
Limitations
- No longer in the maker's current range
- Zone 2 only, so not for Zone 1 areas
- T4 temperature class: fine for most gases, but not those that ignite below 135 °C
- Dust group IIIB: combustible flyings and non-conductive dust only, not conductive dust
- Apple's minimum update period for this iPad has ended: for existing fleets only
Certification
Where you can use it
Gas
- Zone 0not certified.Explosive gas present continuously or for long periods
- Zone 1not certified.Explosive gas likely in normal operation
- Zone 2certified.Explosive gas unlikely, and only briefly
Dust
- Zone 20not certified.Combustible dust present continuously or for long periods
- Zone 21not certified.Combustible dust likely in normal operation
- Zone 22certified.Combustible dust unlikely, and only briefly
The Ex marking, decoded
Gas atmospheresZone 2
ExnRIICT4Gc
ExExplosion protected- Certified to the IEC 60079 / EN 60079 series.
nRProtection type- Restricted-breathing enclosure: the case is sealed so an explosive atmosphere can only seep in very slowly. Zone 2 only.
IICGas group- Gas group IIC, e.g. hydrogen and acetylene. The most demanding group; also covers IIA and IIB.
T4Temperature class- Surface stays below 135 °C. T6 is the strictest class.
GcProtection level- Equipment protection level Gc (enhanced): suitable for Zone 2.
Dust atmospheresZone 22
ExtcIIIBT135°CDc
tcProtection type- Protection by enclosure for dust, level "tc": suitable for Zone 22.
IIIBDust group- Dust group IIIB: non-conductive dust. Also covers IIIA.
T135°CMax surface temperature- Surface stays below 135°C in dust.
DcProtection level- Equipment protection level Dc (enhanced): suitable for Zone 22.
Ex as above.
Safe use
Rules for the hazardous area
- Ambient temperature (Ta)
- −20 °C to +40 °C (standard range: no Ta is marked on IECEx EXV 22.0019X, so IEC 60079-0 applies)Unconfirmed, see note 1
- Charging
- Outside the hazardous area only
- Ports and accessories in the zone
- SIM port plug and test port plug stay in place in the hazardous area
Conditions of use
Do not remove the SIM port plug or test port plug in the hazardous area. The equipment shall only be used in areas where there is a low risk of mechanical damage. Do not recharge in the hazardous area.
Specifications
Full specifications
Device specifications are for the iPad (9th generation) 10.2-inch inside. “What works through the case” shows which of its features you can use in the case.
Certification
- IECEx marking
- Ex nR IIC T4 Gc / Ex tc IIIB T135°C Dc
- IECEx certificate
- IECEx EXV 22.0019X
- Protection level (EPL)
- Gc / Dc
- Dust group
- IIIB
- Max surface temperature (dust)
- 135 °C
Device
- Type
- Certified Ex case
- Tablet inside
- iPad (9th generation) 10.2-inch
- Also fits
- iPad (8th generation) 10.2-inch, iPad (7th generation) 10.2-inch
- Launched
- 2022
- Part numbers
- AP10.2Z2.22
- Operating system
- iPadOS 27
- Edition
- iPadOS (consumer; no LTSC or enterprise edition)
- OS at launch
- iPadOS 15
- OS upgrades
- Still supported by iPadOS 27 (current)
- Security updates
- Ended September 2026
- Processor
- Apple A13 Bionic
- Processor architecture
- Arm
- Memory (RAM)
- 3 GBUnconfirmed, see note 2
- Storage
- 64 GB, 256 GB
What works through the case
- Charging
- Do not recharge in the hazardous area (certificate)
- SIM card
- SIM port plug (must not be removed in the hazardous area)
Field capabilities
- Push-to-talk
- Via app (third-party PTT apps over Wi-Fi/cellular; no PTT key; Ex-rated? n/a)Unconfirmed, see note 3
- Lone worker
- Via app (third-party lone-worker apps)Unconfirmed, see note 3
- Barcode scanning
- Via app (camera-based scanning; no scan engine)Unconfirmed, see note 3
- NFC reading
- Not possible (no NFC reader on any iPad)Unconfirmed, see note 3
- 3D scanning / LiDAR
- Not possible (no LiDAR on this iPad)
- Remote expert / video calls
- Via app (FaceTime, Teams or remote-assist apps; needs camera and audio access through the case)Unconfirmed, see note 3
- Windows desktop software
- Not possible (iPadOS only)
- Bluetooth gas detectors
- Via app (Bluetooth 4.2; vendor app; no maker-certified integration listed)Unconfirmed, see note 3
Display and camera
- Display
- 10.2-inch Retina IPS LCD, True Tone, fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating (no antireflective coating listed by Apple)
- Resolution
- 2160 × 1620 (264 ppi)
- Brightness
- 500 nits
- Pen / stylus
- Apple Pencil (1st generation)
- Rear camera
- 8 MP Wide
- Front camera
- 12 MP Ultra Wide, Center Stage
- Video
- 1080p video
Connectivity
- Network
- Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + Cellular (LTE)
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), 2x2 MIMO
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 4.2
- Satellite positioning
- GPS/GNSS on Wi-Fi + Cellular models; digital compass and Wi-Fi location on all
- SIM
- eSIM and Nano-SIM (cellular models)
Physical and power
- Battery energy
- 32.4
- Battery life
- Up to 10 hours web or video on Wi-Fi
- Hot-swap battery
- No
- Replaceable battery
- No
- Ports and expansion
- Lightning; Smart Connector
- Docking
- USB-C hubs and docks; Smart Connector or magnetic keyboard accessories where the iPad has them. Not usable through sealed Ex cases except the USB-C or Lightning charging port where the case exposes it.
- Keyboard
- Smart Connector (Smart Keyboard)
Controls & Accessibility
- Keys
- Top (sleep/wake) button, volume buttons, Home button with Touch ID; no programmable hardware key
- Push-to-talk key
- No
- Biometrics
- Touch ID (home button)
Fleet and support
- Manufacturer
- RINO Solutions Ltd, United Kingdom
Only specifications we could check are listed. A numbered marker next to a value means it is unconfirmed: it comes from a single or secondary source, or sources disagree. The matching note at the foot of the page explains each one.
Compare
How it compares
Best in this comparison
RINO SolutionsRINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inchThis tablet | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Certified Ex case | Certified Ex case | Certified Ex case | Converted tablet |
| Screen size | 10.2-inch | 11-inch | 11-inch | 10.9-inch |
| Availability | Discontinued | Current | Current | Current |
| Gas zones | Zone 2 | Zone 2 | Zone 2 | Zone 2 |
| Dust zones | Zone 22 | Zone 22 | — | Zone 22 |
| Protection | Restricted-breathing enclosure (Ex nR) | Restricted-breathing enclosure (Ex nR) | Intrinsic safety (Ex ic) | Increased safety and intrinsic safety (Ex ec ic) |
| Gas group | IIC | IIC | IIC | IIC |
| Temperature class | T4 | T6 (best in this comparison) | T6 (best in this comparison) | T4 |
| Certification | IECEx | ATEX + IECEx | ATEX | ATEX |
| North America | — | — | — | — |
| Ambient temperature | −20 °C to +40 °C (standard range: no Ta is marked on IECEx EXV 22.0019X, so IEC 60079-0 applies) | −20 °C to +50 °C | −20 °C to +50 °C | — |
| Charging in the Ex area | Not allowed | Not allowed | — | — |
| Operating system | iPadOS 27 | iPadOS 27 | iPadOS 27 | iPadOS 27 |
| Security updates | Ended September 2026 | At least until March 2030 (Apple's minimum) (best in this comparison) | At least until March 2030 (Apple's minimum) (best in this comparison) | At least until October 2027 (Apple's minimum) |
| Weight | — | — | 656 g (best in this comparison) | 1050 g |
| Display | 10.2-inch Retina IPS LCD, True Tone, fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating (no antireflective coating listed by Apple) | 11-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD, True Tone, fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating (no antireflective coating or full lamination listed by Apple) | 11-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD, True Tone, fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating (no antireflective coating or full lamination listed by Apple) | 10.9-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD, True Tone, fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating (no antireflective coating or full lamination listed by Apple) |
| 5G | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pen / stylus | Apple Pencil (1st generation) | Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil (1st generation) with adapter | Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil (1st generation) with adapter | Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil (1st generation) with adapter |
| Replaceable battery | No | No | No | No |
| Hot-swap battery | No | No | No | No |
| Price | On request | On request | On request | On request |
FAQ
Common questions
Is the RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch certified for Zone 1?
No. It is certified for Zone 2/22 only, so it can be used in Zone 2 but not in Zone 1.
Can the RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch be used in Zone 0?
No. It is not certified for Zone 0. Zone 0 needs equipment with protection level Ga, such as Ex ia intrinsic safety.
What does T4 mean for the RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch?
Its surface stays below 135 °C, so it is suitable for gases that only ignite above that temperature. Check the ignition temperature of the substances on your site.
Can you charge the RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch in a hazardous area?
No. The certificate only allows charging outside the hazardous area.
Which tablet is inside the RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch?
A standard iPad (9th generation) 10.2-inch. It is also certified for the iPad (8th generation) 10.2-inch and iPad (7th generation) 10.2-inch. A certified enclosure that lets a standard consumer tablet be used in hazardous areas.
Which ports and accessories can be used with the RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch in the hazardous area?
SIM port plug and test port plug stay in place in the hazardous area
What operating system does the RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch run?
iPadOS 27. Apple guarantees security updates until at least September 2026; earlier iPads have had longer support.
Is the RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch still available?
No. Its IECEx certificate was cancelled in 2025.
How much does the RINO Solutions Ex nR case iPad 10.2-inch cost?
Prices for certified hazardous-area tablets depend on volume, configuration and region, so they are on request. Contact us for a price.
Notes on unconfirmed values
- The certificate marks no ambient range, so the standard default applies (−20 °C to +40 °C, IEC 60079-0). Return to note 1
- Apple doesn't publish RAM; from independent teardowns. Return to note 2
- Not confirmed by the maker for this exact model. Return to note 3
Sources and verification
Facts last verified on against:
- IECEx Certificate Database (ExVeritas): IECEx EXV 22.0019X issue 0, 2022-06-23, Cancelled (suspended 2025-01-20, cancelled 2025-08-07)
- Apple: Identify your iPad model (model numbers, years)
- Apple: UK PSTI Statements of Compliance, one per model (regulatoryinfo.apple.com/ukpsti): first supply date and minimum 5-year defined support period
- Apple: iPadOS 27 compatibility list (apple.com/os/ipados)
- BGR / EveryMac / 9to5Mac: iPadOS 27 drops iPad mini 5, iPad 8, iPad Air 3, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st gen (release 2026-09-14)
Always check the certificate for your exact model before use. Spotted an error? Tell us.