In earlier articles, we advised that only certain “prescribed buildings” such as new or substantially renovated commercial premises would be required to install AEDs from 1 January 2026.
However, following further clarification from the SA Health Department, we now understand the requirements are broader than initially advised.
The Act applies to all publicly accessible buildings and facilities with a floor area of 600m² or more. A building will be considered accessible to the public if the public can freely access any part of the building (even if this area is small) such as a reception area, toilet, or foyer.
If your business premises are open to the public and you have a floor area of 600m² or more, you will need to have at least one AED installed by 1 January 2026.
Example: An automotive workshop that consists of a large shed with a small reception area for customers to drop off cars. The whole building has a floor area greater than 600m². Even though the public only have access to a very small part of the entire building, the premises will fall within the requirements of needing to install 1 AED.
If your business premises is open to the public and you have a publicly accessible floor area of more than 1,200m², you will need to have one AED installed for every 1,200m² of publicly accessible floor area.
Example: A car dealership has a total floor area of 3,200m². Given the building is greater than 600m² it will require at least one AED. You then need to consider if there is a floor area of 1,200m² or more that is publicly accessible. Consider places like foyer, toilets, display areas. Areas which are restricted to staff only will not be counted when considering publicly accessible floor area. In this example, the publicly accessible floor area is 2,500m². The building will require 2 AEDs.
We strongly recommend you begin preparations as soon as possible to ensure compliance by 1 January 2026.
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Use promo code MTA25 to redeem your discount: St John Ambulance Shop
We are committed to keeping you informed and supporting you through these changes.
If you have any questions or need further guidance, please contact our Workplace Relations Department on 8291 2000 or via email at wr@mtasant.com.au
