How often should you inspect an AED?
For facility and safety managers: the three sources that set the interval, and what to record on each inspection.
By approved author · Reviewed by licensed attorney reviewer name · Published 24 September 2026.
There is no single interval that fits every AED program. The manufacturer's maintenance schedule sets the starting point. Your state rules and your program policy can shorten it.
This article explains the three sources, the five checks on the standard inspection, and the record that holds the result.
Where the interval comes from
The manufacturer's instructions come first. They list the maintenance steps and the checks for your model, and they state the replacement intervals for the pads and the battery. The FDA tells AED owners to make sure that the device and its accessories are approved for use. When the approval status is unclear, the FDA says to contact the manufacturer.
State law is the second source. The CDC fact sheet on public access defibrillation found that 42 states required or encouraged the maintenance and testing of AEDs as of 30 June 2017. OSHA publishes no standard that sets an AED inspection interval. OSHA states that its standards do not address AEDs directly, and that first-aid hazards sit under general industry standard 29 CFR 1910.151. The state rule is general information, not legal advice. legal-approved disclaimer text this passage needs legal sign-off
Your own policy is the third source. A site with heavy public use can need more checks than a locked office cabinet. A training room, a gym and a warehouse each carry a different pattern of use, so the site team sets the routine that fits the space.
Sources: CDC Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) State Law Fact Sheet, state law as of 30 June 2017, and the OSHA AED standards page. Last verified 24 September 2026.
Write the interval down. A schedule that lives in one person's memory leaves with that person.
The interval is not the same thing as the maintenance schedule. A visual check can run more often than a service visit, because it takes minutes and needs no parts. Keep the two on separate lines in the policy, and name the owner of each.
Set the interval by site type
The same interval can serve every site, but the sites do not carry the same risk. A locked office cabinet sees little traffic. A gym, a school lobby and a transit platform see more. The site team knows the pattern, so ask them before the schedule is set.
A workable routine has two layers. The first layer is a visual check that a member of the site team runs on a short cycle, and it uses the five lines below. The second layer is the manufacturer's maintenance schedule, which covers the parts that wear, such as the pads and the battery.
Write both layers into the program policy, and name the person who owns each site. A named owner turns a schedule into work.
A one-page routine
Put the routine on one page, and give the page to every site custodian.
- Name the site custodian and a backup.
- List the five checklist lines.
- State the visual-check cycle.
- State the manufacturer's maintenance cycle.
- Name the person who receives a failed-line task.
- State the review date for the routine.
One page covers the routine. The software holds the records behind it.
What to inspect on each visit
ReadyAED uses five checklist lines for every unit, whatever the brand:
- Pads sealed and in date.
- Status indicator shows ready.
- Battery within range.
- Cabinet unlocked and unobstructed.
- Rescue kit sealed and complete.
Every line must be answered Pass, Fail or N/A before the inspection is complete. A failed line adds a follow-up task. A flat battery or an expired pad then leaves the notebook and becomes work with an owner.
Record the inspection date, the inspector, the five answers, the battery reading and any notes or photos. The device record keeps the history, and the timeline shows user and system events.
Why the interval matters
The OSHA AED overview states that the chance of survival from sudden cardiac death falls by 7% to 10% for each minute without CPR or defibrillation. After 10 minutes, resuscitation rarely succeeds.
Source: OSHA, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), overview. Last verified 24 September 2026.
An AED can fail because a pad is past its date or a battery is flat. ReadyAED shows both before they expire. The overview lists the consumables that expire in the next 90 days, with the devices affected and the reorder cost.
A check schedule is one part of readiness. The other parts are the pads, the battery and the records.
Readiness is the sum of small facts. A pad has a date. A battery has a reading. A cabinet has a lock. The five-line check collects those facts in one visit. The register then answers a question that no single check can answer: which unit needs attention now.
The four statuses come from those facts. Ready means the unit passed its last check and each date sits inside its window. Due soon means a date falls within 30 days. Overdue means a date has passed or a scheduled inspection was missed. Offline means no report was received, so the unit needs a look.
A schedule keeps the facts current. Without one, the register would describe last year.
Keep the schedule without a paper binder
ReadyAED records each inspection and shows the next due date. Each unit carries one of four statuses: Ready, Due soon, Overdue or Offline. Each status carries an icon and a word, so the meaning does not depend on colour.
Five transactional email templates cover the routine: inspection due, overdue, device used, weekly digest and invite. The site team sees the same status model on the web and on a phone.
- Mobile inspections: the five-line phone flow, and the record behind each answer.
- Expiry and consumables tracking: pads, batteries and rescue kits before the date passes.
See the routine on your own sites. Book a demo, and bring the interval you use today.
What the inspection record holds
Each inspection stores the date, the inspector, the five answers, the battery reading and any notes or photos. The device record keeps the full history, and the timeline shows user and system events.
The record answers questions that arrive later. A new site manager can see when the pads were last checked. A service visit can start from the last battery reading. An audit can trace one unit from the day it entered the register.
ReadyAED exports the history as a report, a CSV file or a device history. The record does not depend on one person's memory.
When the interval must change
Four events move the interval.
- A manufacturer update changes the service schedule for a model.
- A state change adds or removes a requirement.
- A site changes its use, and the traffic pattern changes with it.
- An inspection finds a repeat failure, such as a battery that drains faster than the schedule expects.
Record the reason for each change next to the new interval. The record shows an auditor that the program reviews its own routine. Review the four events at the annual policy review, and keep the note short.
FAQ
Does OSHA require a specific AED inspection frequency?
No. OSHA publishes no standard that sets an AED inspection interval. OSHA standards do not address AEDs directly. First-aid hazards around an AED program sit under general industry standard 29 CFR 1910.151. State plans can add their own requirements, so make sure that you read the rule for each state where you operate.
How often do the battery and pads need replacement?
The manufacturer's schedule for your model sets the replacement intervals. Pads and batteries carry expiry dates, and the packaging states the date. ReadyAED stores both dates and lists the units affected in the next 90 days. Consumables are fulfilled by partners, and you can create a purchase order in the app. ReadyAED sells no hardware and no consumables.
What do we record for each inspection?
Record the date, the inspector, the five answers, the battery reading and any notes or photos. ReadyAED keeps the record with the device, shows it in the inspection history and keeps the audit trail for the whole program.
Who can inspect an AED?
Any trained member of the site team can run the five-line check. ReadyAED invites site staff into the account, records the site custodian and the last inspector, and assigns each device to a person. The register shows the last inspector, so the answer does not depend on a sign-in sheet. Training requirements vary by state, so make sure that you read the rule for each state where a unit sits.
What happens when a checklist line fails?
A failed line adds a follow-up task automatically. The task covers the fix: order replacement pads, raise a service request, order a battery, clear an obstruction or restock a rescue kit. The task stays open until the fix is recorded.
Do we inspect a unit that is in storage?
Yes. A spare unit carries the same dates as a unit on a wall. A pad and a battery age in storage. Add spare units to the register with their storage location, and keep them on the same cycle.
What does an inspection cost in staff time?
No source publishes an average, and ReadyAED publishes no measured time. The cost of one inspection is the minutes it takes multiplied by the loaded hourly cost of the inspector. Count your own minutes for one month, then use that figure in the budget. The article on program costs shows the method.
Related articles
- AED laws by state: what changes at the state line: the program areas that state law touches, from placement to immunity.
- How to prepare for an AED program audit: the records an auditor asks for, and the order to gather them in.
- The AED management blog: all five articles.
Book a demo
Book a demo to see the register, the five-line inspection and the record behind each answer. Bring your current interval and the person who keeps it. In 30 minutes we show the product against the way your team works.