How often should an AED be inspected?
At least monthly for most AEDs, and more often if the manufacturer or your state says so. Monthly is what ZOLL recommends, what Stryker asks of LIFEPAK CR2 owners and what the American Heart Association’s AED program guide tells programs to do.
The AED itself runs automatic self-tests far more often, daily or weekly depending on the model, but that doesn’t replace a person looking at it. A self-test can’t see that the AED was moved, that its cabinet is blocked or that its rescue kit is gone. A few manufacturers ask for more: HeartSine wants the status indicator checked weekly, and Defibtech daily.
Pick an interval that meets the strictest rule that applies to you, then make it routine: the same day each month, the same person, a written record. Our monthly AED inspection checklist covers what to look at.
What state laws say about AED inspections
Most states put the inspection duty on the AED’s owner. The AED law data in AED Log lists 34 states that require AEDs to be properly inspected and maintained, and in 28 of them the rule points to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
That link to the manufacturer matters: in those states, following the maker’s inspection schedule is how you meet the law. Some laws go further for specific places. California requires every health studio to check its AED at least every 30 days, and New Jersey requires health clubs’ AEDs to be tested and maintained. School laws such as New York’s Desha’s Law require school AEDs to be maintained as part of a cardiac emergency response plan.
There’s no federal inspection rule. OSHA standards don’t specifically address AEDs, though OSHA encourages employers to have them. See AED laws by state for your state’s requirements, including who must be trained and whether EMS must be told where your AEDs are.
What manufacturers require
Every manufacturer asks owners to check the status indicator and the pads’ and battery’s dates on a schedule, usually monthly. They differ on the details, so read your model’s manual.
| AED | Automatic self-test | Owner check the maker asks for |
|---|---|---|
| ZOLL AED Plus and AED 3 | Every 7 days by default, plus monthly | Monthly visual inspection |
| Philips HeartStart OnSite and FRx | Daily | Periodic checks of the Ready light, supplies and condition, recorded on the maintenance tag |
| HeartSine samaritan PAD | Weekly | Status indicator weekly; damage and Pad-Pak date monthly |
| Stryker LIFEPAK CR2 | Daily, weekly and monthly | Verify readiness at least monthly |
| Stryker LIFEPAK 1000 | Daily and monthly | User’s checklist; weekly for rarely used units |
| ZOLL Powerheart G5 | Daily, weekly and monthly | At least monthly |
| Defibtech Lifeline | Daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly | Status indicator daily; condition and dates monthly |
| Avive Connect | Daily, weekly and monthly | Status light periodically; keep the battery charged |
Manufacturers also send safety notices and software updates, and the American Heart Association suggests registering each AED with its manufacturer so you receive news of updates and recalls. Our AED recalls guide explains what to do when one arrives.
What to check during an inspection
Check that the status indicator shows ready, the AED isn’t chirping, the pads and battery are in date, the unit is undamaged, clean and dry, and any cabinet alarm works. Then confirm the AED is where it should be, with its sign and rescue kit.
These are the seven questions in AED Log’s default monthly AED inspection:
- Is the status indicator light green or flashing green?
- Is the AED chirping or beeping?
- Are the pads expired?
- Is the battery expired?
- Is the AED visibly damaged?
- Is the AED clear of debris and moisture?
- If there is an AED wall cabinet with an alarm, is the door alarm working?
Any answer other than the passing one fails the inspection. Our free AED inspection checklist PDF asks the same questions on paper.
How to test an AED
You test an AED by reading the result of its automatic self-test on the status indicator and, where your model allows it, by running a manual self-test. You don’t test it by shocking anything or opening its pads.
People mean three different things by testing an AED:
- Reading the self-test. Every AED tests itself on a schedule. A green check or flashing green light means it passed; red, blank or beeping means it didn’t. See the AED self-test and status indicator guide for each brand.
- Running a manual self-test. On many models you can start one: hold the On/Off button for about five seconds on a ZOLL AED Plus or AED 3 or a Defibtech Lifeline, press LANGUAGE and CHILD MODE together on a LIFEPAK CR2, or hold Power for five seconds on an Avive Connect. Philips warns that its battery-reinsertion test uses battery power, so run it only when needed.
- Practicing with it. Responders practice on an AED trainer, not on the AED on the wall. AED pads are single use, so opening a sealed set to practice wastes it.
Test again after anything that could affect the AED: a new battery or pads, a drop, a move to a new spot, extreme heat or cold, or a use in an emergency. Testing confirms the electronics. It doesn’t confirm the AED can be found and reached, which is why the monthly inspection looks at its surroundings too.
What records to keep
Keep a dated record of every inspection, with who did it and the result, plus every pad and battery replacement, service visit, recall action and use. If it isn’t written down, you can’t show it was done.
- Inspections: the date, the inspector, the AED and its location, each check’s result and any action taken.
- Parts: the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates, and when each was replaced.
- Service and recalls: repairs, software updates, and what you did about each recall notice.
- Uses: every time the AED was used, and the restocking afterward. The AED law data in AED Log lists 15 states that require AED uses to be reported.
- People: responders’ CPR and AED certifications and their expiration dates.
A paper AED inspection log sheet works for a few AEDs. AED Log’s compliance reports pull the same records together for every location, as a CSV or a branded PDF. Missing records are one of the most common AED compliance mistakes.
AED inspection requirements FAQ
How often should an AED be inspected?
At least as often as the manufacturer says, which for most AEDs means a visual check every month and, for some, every week. Some state laws also set an interval, so follow whichever is stricter.
Do state laws require AED inspections?
Many do. The AED law data in AED Log lists 34 states that require AED owners to properly inspect and maintain their AEDs, and in 28 of them the rule ties that duty to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
Does OSHA require AED inspections?
No. OSHA standards don’t specifically address AEDs, so there’s no OSHA inspection rule for them. State AED laws and the manufacturer’s instructions set the inspection duty instead.
Can I run an AED self-test myself?
On many models, yes: hold the On/Off button for about five seconds on ZOLL and Defibtech units, press two buttons together on a LIFEPAK CR2, or hold Power on an Avive Connect. Philips warns its battery-reinsertion test uses power, so run it only when needed.
What AED inspection records should I keep?
For every inspection: the date, who did it, the AED and its location, the result of each check and any action taken. Keep pad and battery replacements, service, recall actions and uses of the AED too.