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. Review your lease terms and get ahead of any ambiguity before an inspection or incident forces the issue.
Does This Apply to My Building?
Ask yourself three questions:
- Is the building privately owned and commercially operated?
- Does it have 600m² or more of space accessible to the general public?
- 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?
Installing a defibrillator is not as simple as buying a device and hanging it on the wall. To be fully compliant under the Act — and to protect yourself under WHS obligations — your setup should include:
1. A TGA-Registered AED
The device must be a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)-registered automated external defibrillator. Only TGA-registered devices may be legally sold and used as medical devices in Australia. All AEDs sold by Vectr Medical are TGA-registered.
2. A Wall-Mounted Cabinet
The AED should be stored in an alarmed wall cabinet in a clearly visible, accessible location — ideally near high-traffic areas like building entrances, lifts, or reception. The alarm alerts staff if the cabinet is opened outside a genuine emergency.
3. Compliant Signage
AED location signs must be clearly displayed so that any person — staff, visitor, or emergency responder — can locate the device instantly. Directional arrow signs along corridors leading to the AED are strongly recommended.
4. Annual Testing and Maintenance
AEDs require regular testing to confirm they are operational. Australian Standard AS3551 covers medical equipment management, and most public liability insurers require documented evidence that your AED has been tested and maintained. A calibration certificate from a qualified biomedical engineer is the gold standard for compliance records.
5. AED Registration
Register your AED with SA Ambulance Service. Registered AEDs appear in the dispatch database so that triple-zero operators can direct bystanders to the nearest device during a cardiac emergency.
Which AED Should I Choose?
For most commercial buildings complying with the SA Act, you want a device that is designed for use by untrained or minimally trained bystanders, TGA-registered, low-maintenance, and backed by local service support.
Philips HeartStart HS1 — $2,990
The most beginner-friendly AED available. Calm, adaptive voice prompts guide even a completely untrained rescuer through every step. The SMART Pads Cartridge means one expiry date to track, and the device is ready to deploy in under 8 seconds. Ideal for reception-area installation where the first responder may be a receptionist, visitor, or cleaner.
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. Well-proven globally and used by emergency services. The 7-year battery option significantly reduces ongoing maintenance costs.
ZOLL AED 3 — from $3,299
The premium choice where a first-aider or trained responder is likely to be first on scene. ZOLL's Real CPR Help technology measures chest compression depth in real time — significantly improving CPR quality during the critical minutes before paramedics arrive. Five-year pad and battery life keeps ongoing costs low.
What About Other Australian States?
South Australia is currently the only state with mandatory AED legislation for commercial buildings in force. However, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria are all watching the SA rollout closely. Industry bodies expect similar requirements to be introduced nationally within 2–3 years.
Getting compliant now — even outside SA — is increasingly considered best practice for WHS obligations and public liability. Most commercial property insurers now ask about AED provision as part of risk assessments.
The Cost of Not Complying
The direct financial penalty is up to $20,000 per non-compliant building. But the legal and reputational risk of a preventable cardiac death on an uncompliant premises is significantly greater.
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%. In a busy commercial building, your AED may be the difference.
Vectr Medical’s Compliance Service
Vectr Medical is a NATA-certified biomedical engineering company. We do not just sell AEDs — we test, calibrate, and certify them. Our team services 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 or book our AED compliance testing service.