SA AED Laws Are Now in Force: What Your Business Must Do in 2026

From 1 January 2026, the South Australian Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022 is in full effect. If you own or manage a commercial property in South Australia, this law may require you to have a defibrillator installed — and failure to comply carries fines of up to $20,000.

This guide explains exactly what the legislation requires, who is responsible, what a compliant AED setup looks like, and how to get your building sorted quickly.

What Does the Law Actually Require?

Under the Act, privately owned commercial buildings with 600 square metres or more of publicly accessible floor space must have a compliant automated external defibrillator (AED) installed and maintained on-site.

Key points:

• The 600m² threshold includes all publicly accessible areas — foyers, corridors, lifts, bathrooms, and shared spaces all count toward the total.
• One AED is required per 1,200m² of publicly accessible space. Larger buildings will need more than one unit.
• The AED must be registered, maintained, and accessible during business hours.
• Fines of up to $20,000 apply for non-compliant properties.

Who Is Responsible — Landlord or Tenant?

This is the question most commercial property stakeholders get wrong. Under the SA Act, the obligation sits with the building owner (landlord), not the tenant.

If you lease a commercial building to tenants and the property meets the 600m² threshold, you are legally responsible for ensuring a compliant AED is installed — regardless of what your lease agreement says about the fit-out.

Does This Apply to My Building?

Ask yourself three questions:

1. Is the building privately owned and commercially operated?
2. Does it have 600m² or more of space accessible to the general public?
3. Is it located in South Australia?

If you answered yes to all three — the Act applies to you. Common property types affected include:

• Shopping centres and retail strips
• Office buildings with public foyers or reception areas
• Hotels, motels, and hospitality venues
• Gyms, fitness centres, and sporting facilities
• Private hospitals and specialist clinics
• Function centres and entertainment venues
• Aged care facilities

What Does a Compliant AED Setup Look Like?

1. A TGA-Registered AED

All AEDs sold by Vectr Medical are TGA-registered. See our guide to choosing the right AED for your workplace for a full brand comparison.

2. A Wall-Mounted Cabinet

The AED should be stored in an alarmed wall cabinet. We stock ZOLL and WAP AED wall cabinets.

3. Compliant Signage

We stock ILCOR-standard AED signs and directional arrows for all major brands.

4. Annual Testing and Maintenance

A NATA-certified calibration certificate from a qualified biomedical engineer is the gold standard. Our AED testing service provides exactly this. Read our complete AED compliance and maintenance guide for full details.

5. AED Registration

Register your AED with SA Ambulance Service so triple-zero operators can direct bystanders to your device in a cardiac emergency.

Which AED Should I Choose?

Philips HeartStart HS1 — $2,990

The most beginner-friendly AED available. Calm, adaptive voice prompts guide even a completely untrained rescuer through every step. SMART Pads Cartridge means one expiry date to track, and the device is ready to deploy in under 8 seconds.

Defibtech Lifeline Semi-Auto — from $2,099

Excellent value for workplace compliance. Simple two-button operation, long battery options (5-year and 7-year packs available), TGA-approved.

ZOLL AED 3 — from $3,299

The premium choice where a first-aider or trained responder is likely to be first on scene. Five-year pad and battery life. See our AED maintenance guide for ongoing cost comparison across brands.

What About Other Australian States?

South Australia is currently the only state with mandatory AED legislation. See our Queensland AED requirements guide for what QLD businesses should be doing now. Industry bodies expect similar requirements nationally within 2–3 years.

To understand the clinical case for AEDs, read our guide to sudden cardiac arrest in Australia.

The Cost of Not Complying

The direct financial penalty is up to $20,000 per non-compliant building. Sudden cardiac arrest has a survival rate of less than 10% without rapid defibrillation. With an AED applied within 3–5 minutes, survival rates rise to over 70%.

Vectr Medical’s Compliance Service

Vectr Medical is a NATA-certified biomedical engineering company. We test, calibrate, and certify AEDs for Queensland Ambulance Service, NSW Ambulance, the Australian Federal Police, and the Australian Defence Force.

For SA compliance, we offer:

• Complete compliance packages — TGA-approved AED + wall cabinet + signage, ready to install
• Annual AED testing service — NATA-certified inspection with calibration certificate to AS3551
• Expert advice — our biomedical engineers can advise on device selection, placement, and registration

Browse our TGA-approved AED range →