adelaidedefibrillators.au

1. Why this matters

• The Act requires certain buildings, facilities and vehicles in South Australia to have an accessible Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Defibrillators Australia+4South Australian Legislation+4Law Handbook+4
• The reason: sudden cardiac arrest is time‐critical; more accessible AEDs improve chances of survival. Integrity Health & Safety
• For industry and organisations: non-compliance is not just a safety risk, but a legal risk (offences apply). Law Handbook+1
• This is a useful model for your defibrillator business and for organisations you work with to understand regulatory drivers, compliance obligations, and wider organisational risk.

2. Key deadlines and scope

So organisations (private/commercial) should plan ahead now: procurement, installation, registration, signage, maintenance. The “Industry” part means your clients, your business and your awareness are vital.

3. Who and what the Act applies to

     3.1 Who is responsible

• The “owner” of a building/facility is responsible. Under the Act “owner” includes: fee simple owner of the land; lessee or licensee if land held from Crown; person with right to purchase under an agreement. SA Health+1
• For vehicles, the “relevant authority” of the vehicle (owner of train/tram or registered owner of bus) is responsible. SA Health

     3.2 What buildings/facilities/vehicles are in scope

• Designated buildings/facilities: under Section 4 of the Act include public building or facility (the public has access), sporting facility, school/tertiary institution, retirement village, aged care facility, caravan park, residential park, casino/venue for gambling, theatre/cultural venue. Law Handbook+1
• Prescribed building: under Section 5 of the Act: e.g. a commercial‐land building built or substantially improved after 1 Jan 2025 to > 600 m², or change of use to commercial with floor area ≥600 m². SA Health
• Vehicles: Emergency services vehicles (e.g. South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service, South Australian State Emergency Service, South Australian Country Fire Service) must have AEDs. Then from Jan 2026 trains, trams, public buses (carrying >14 adults) will be required. SA Health
• Exemptions: The Act does not apply to hospitals/medical facilities meeting specified criteria, correctional facilities, children’s residential facilities, buildings/facilities not accessible to the public, car-parks etc. Law Handbook+1

     3.3 Floor-area calculation & number of AEDs required

• For commercial‐land buildings/facilities: If publicly accessible floor area is ≥1,200 m², then requirement: 1 AED per every 1,200 m² up to prescribed maximum (regulation sets thresholds). SA Health+1
• For smaller designated facilities (e.g., a sporting club building) you must install at least one AED irrespective of size. SA Health
• Schools (primary and secondary) are designated buildings but excluded from “commercial purpose” classification — thus only required to install one AED. SA Health

4. What organisations need to do (step-by-step)

Here’s a simplified checklist for an organisation/industry operator in SA to comply.

1. Identify scope

• Are you/your building/facility/vehicle “in scope”?
• Determine if your building is a “designated building/facility” or a “prescribed building”.
• Determine publicly accessible floor area and commercial land use. (Refer to Best Practice Guide for measuring floor area). SA Health
• Check for exemptions.

2. Calculate how many AEDs required

• At minimum: one AED for all designated buildings/facilities.
• If commercial land and publicly accessible ≥1,200 m²: scale accordingly (1 per 1,200 m²) up to maximums. SA Health
• Procure appropriate AED(s)

3. The AED must be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). SA Health

• Consider accessories, durability, battery, pads suited to your setting (industry, warehouse, office).
• Ensure you have a maintenance and replacement plan (battery life, pad expiry).

4. Install and position

• Install AED in a location with immediate access. SA Health
• Provide signage: A sign near the AED, and a sign outside or near entrance indicating AED is nearby. SA Health
• Make sure the route to AED is unobstructed and known to staff.

5. Register the AED

• After installation you must register the AED on the AED Register (via SA Ambulance Service website). Must include location, times accessible, etc. SA Health+1
• If details change (location, accessibility times) you must update the register.

6. Maintain and train

• Maintenance: follow manufacturer’s instructions; scheduled checks (pads, battery, readiness). SA Health
• Training: While in some circumstances users don’t need formal training (AED voice prompts allow use by laypersons) it is strongly recommended to have basic AED/CPR training for staff. SA Health
• Ensure staff know the AED location, signage, how to access, how to use.

7. Monitor for compliance, changes & renewal

• Review whether changes in building use/floor area/ownership mean additional AED(s) are needed or obligations shift.
• Keep documentation: installation, maintenance logs, training records, registration evidence.
• Ensure signage remains visible, device accessible.

8. Understand offences and penalties

• Failure to install/maintain/register as required: penalty up to $20,000. Law Handbook
• Intentional damage/removal of an AED: penalty up to $10,000 or 1 year imprisonment. Law Handbook+1
• Authorised officers have powers to inspect compliance. SA Health

5. Specific considerations for industry & organisations

• Workplaces/industrial facilities: Many large warehouses or commercial buildings will be captured (if publicly accessible areas exceed threshold). For example, warehouse with a large showroom or visitor area may qualify. Ensure analysis of publicly accessible vs back-of-house area.
• Management of shared spaces: If you manage a building with multiple tenants, the “owner” (or responsible party) must ensure compliance; you may need to coordinate with tenants.
• Large open-plan public areas/shopping centres: Because the number of AEDs required increases with publicly accessible floor area, sites may need multiple devices. Ensure strategic placement so one device is within a suitably short timeframe/response time. The Best Practice Guide provides example allocation (for example an 85,000 m² centre may require 18 AEDs). SA Health+1
• Remote or less-access sites: If your facility is remote, or you are in a region where EMS response times are longer, the value of AEDs is higher — consider not just the compliance minimum but best-practice for risk management.
• Not-for-profits, community organisations, accommodation providers: Organisations such as retirement villages, caravan parks, residential parks are in scope. Ensuring clarity of the public access aspect and floor area is important.
• Vehicles: If your organisation owns/operates public buses/trams/trains, or emergency service vehicles, you will need to plan for the vehicle-based obligations (coming into effect 2026 for non-Crown).
• Budget & procurement: Ensure you allocate budget for purchase, installation, signage, maintenance, registration. Grants may be available for not‐for-profits (see commentary by industry sources). csaim.org.au
• Integration with safety management systems: Include AED in your occupational health and safety plan, first aid plan, emergency response plan. For your business advising clients, emphasise this.

6. Quick “Organisation Action Plan” – 30/60/90 days

Within 30 days

• Identify whether your building/facility/vehicle is in scope.
• Measure publicly accessible floor area; check land use.
• Assign responsible person for AED compliance.
• Budget check: cost of AED, installation, signage, registration.

Within 60 days

• Choose and procure the AED(s) (TGA-approved).
• Plan installation location(s) and signage.
• Register the device(s) with SA Ambulance Service once installed.
• Communicate to staff/tenants about location and access.

Within 90 days (and ongoing)

• Install the AED(s), apply signage, test accessibility.
• Conduct staff training in CPR/AED use and ensure staff know how to access.
• Implement maintenance schedule: check battery, pads, readiness.
• Document all steps (installation date, registration confirmation, maintenance logs).
• Review annually (or when building use changes) to confirm number/placement of AEDs remains adequate.

7. How this relates to your business (and value proposition)

Given that you’re involved with the promotion and supply of defibrillators, the SA legislation highlights:

• A regulatory driver (“must-have”) rather than “nice to have” for many organisations → an opportunity for your product/service offering (sales, installation, maintenance packages, signage, registration support).
• The need for combination services: procurement + installation + registration + signage + training + maintenance oversight.
• The importance of clear communication to clients about compliance risk, number calculations, placement strategy.
• Opportunity for grant-aware client segments (not-for-profit organisations, community clubs) who may need funding assistance.
• The need for documentation and follow-up services: e.g., tracking pad expiry, battery replacement, signage visibility,/device registration changes.
• The broader market beyond workplaces: schools, sports clubs, retirement villages, caravan parks etc.

8. Summary of key take-aways

• The Act and Regulations in SA impose legal obligations on owners/authorities of certain buildings/facilities/vehicles to have AED(s) installed, accessible, maintained and registered.
• Deadlines: Crown-owned from 1 Jan 2025; non-Crown/private from 1 Jan 2026.
• Determine “in scope”, measure floor area/public access, determine number of AEDs.
• Install TGA-approved AED(s), provide signage, register with SA Ambulance Service, maintain device and train staff.
• Non-compliance carries substantial penalties and is a safety risk.
• For industry and organisations this becomes part of their health & safety, emergency planning, risk-management, and compliance obligations.
• For suppliers/service providers (such as your defibrillator business) this regulatory change is a major market driver and opportunity for value-added services.