Automated External Defibrillators in dental practice – what’s new?

The Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022 is new legislation specific to South Australia which requires some buildings, facilities, and vehicles (such as buses, trams, trains) to have Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) installed.

The requirement to install defibrillators within Government-owned buildings commenced in 2025 and will commences for non-Government owned buildings on 1 January 2026.

What is the purpose of the new law?  

The aim of the new legislation is to improve cardiac arrest survival rates.

Does my dental practice need to have one? 

First, all clinics performing conscious sedation should already have an AED as part of best practice guidelines.

It will otherwise depend on the size of your practice. If your dental clinic has a total publicly-accessible floor area of greater than or equal to 600 m² (about 2 tennis courts) then an AED must be installed, with one AED being required for every 1200 m2 of publicly accessible floor area (ie: if it is 1800 m2 then 2 AEDs should be installed).

What if I work in a medical/dental practice facility?

The Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022 does not apply to:

• hospitals or other medical facilities 

Are there any specific requirements when purchasing an AED?

If you own a public building or facility of 600m2 (or more floor area), then you may be legally required to:

• install and register at least one AED
• display clear signage for the AED
• maintain the AED regularly
• ensure the AED is publicly accessible (where applicable).

All AED’s must be TGA-approved, and, preferably, meet the ANZCOR (Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation) Guidelines (Guideline 11.2 – Section 2.4).