The right AED, placed in the right hallway, in the wrong cabinet, at the wrong height, with no signage, is invisible. In a real emergency, bystanders can lose critical time finding a device, even one mounted nearby, when signage is weak and cabinet placement is unclear (see AHA public-access AED resources).
This is the tactical guide every facility manager, safety officer, and architect needs: exact mounting heights, cabinet-type comparisons, ISO 7010 signage requirements, ADA reach standards, and the building code rules that govern where AED cabinets can, and can’t, go.
Compact AED cabinet with alarm at AED Leader, $135.15
ADA mounting heights (the non-negotiable baseline)
The U.S. Access Board’s ADA Standards for Accessible Design §308 set the rules for reach ranges:
| Reach type | Maximum height | Minimum height | AED cabinet rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward reach (unobstructed) | 48 inches | 15 inches | Place handle at 48″ |
| Side reach (unobstructed) | 48 inches | 15 inches | Place handle at 48″ |
| Forward reach (obstructed up to 20″) | 48 inches | 15 inches | Standard fix |
| Forward reach (obstructed 20 to 25″) | 44 inches | 15 inches | Reduced max |
Practical rule: The AED cabinet operating handle should sit no higher than 48 inches from the finished floor, and no lower than 15 inches, per the 2010 ADA Standards §308.
While you are at the cabinet, check the expiry date.
Mounting day is the cheapest possible moment to catch a pad that expires in six months. Here is what your model takes.
All models: pads and battery costs · Philips parts · ZOLL parts
AED cabinet types (and when to use each)
1. Surface-mount (recommended for most spaces)
Bolts to the wall surface. Easiest to install, no wall cutout required. Adds ~4 to 6 inches of depth into the corridor. Under ADA §307.2, objects mounted 27 to 80 inches high may protrude no more than 4 inches, so a deeper cabinet needs to be semi-recessed or have a cane-detectable element below it. Also verify corridor egress width before installing (IBC generally requires a 44-inch minimum corridor width, 36 inches where the occupant load is under 50; confirm with your AHJ).
2. Semi-recessed
Partial wall cutout; the cabinet projects about 2 to 3 inches from the wall. Best aesthetic, but requires more installation labor and engineer’s sign-off on load-bearing walls.
3. Fully recessed
The cabinet sits entirely inside the wall cavity. Most flush, and needs the most wall work. Best for premium office, hotel, and hospital environments.
4. Alarmed cabinet (strongly recommended)
Audible alarm + flashing strobe when the door opens. Discourages tampering (theft is the leading cause of missing public-access AEDs) and immediately alerts staff to a deployment.
5. Heated outdoor cabinet
Used outside or in unconditioned spaces below 35°F. Thermostatically controlled heater keeps the AED’s lithium battery in operating range. Mandatory for any climate with sub-freezing winters.
6. Wall-mount transport bag (mobile option)
Not technically a cabinet, a high-visibility carry bag mounted on a wall hook. Used in athletic environments where the AED travels with the team.
| Cabinet type | Typical cost | Best for | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface-mount, non-alarmed | $100 to $200 | Low-traffic offices | Theft vulnerability |
| Surface-mount, alarmed | $135 to $290 | Most commercial spaces | None significant |
| Semi-recessed alarmed | $254 to $297 | Hotels, hospitals | More install labor |
| Fully-recessed alarmed | $237 to $280 | Premium offices | Wall structure required |
| Heated outdoor cabinet | $600 to $1,200 | Outdoor venues, cold climates | Power supply needed |
| Wall transport bag | $60 to $120 | Athletics, mobile use | No theft deterrent |
AED signage, ISO 7010 & NFPA 170 standards
Two signage standards govern AED identification:
ISO 7010 (international)
Symbol code E010, green square with a white heart and lightning bolt. This is the universally recognized international AED symbol. The ISO 7010 standard standardizes safety signage across countries.
NFPA 170 (U.S. fire safety)
The NFPA 170 standard harmonizes with ISO 7010 for AED symbols and adds U.S.-specific guidance on signage placement, lighting, and wayfinding.
Signage placement rules
- Wall sign directly above cabinet: Visible from any direction of approach
- Flag (perpendicular) sign: Projects from the wall into the corridor for visibility down hallways. Critical at hallway intersections.
- Wayfinding signs: Place at decision points (hall intersections, elevator lobbies) within 50 feet of the AED, with an arrow pointing toward it.
- Floor-level visibility: Standard above-cabinet sign + flag sign together create a “you can see it from anywhere” effect.
Lighting & visibility requirements
An AED cabinet must remain visible during a power outage and in low-light environments:
- Place under existing corridor lighting (not in dark alcoves)
- Avoid placement directly opposite a window where glare reduces sign visibility
- Photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) signs are required in some life-safety codes for fire-egress paths and recommended for AEDs in fire-stairwells
- For after-hours buildings (gyms, 24-hour offices), supplement with battery-backed emergency lighting
Cabinet placement: the 4-step compliance check
- ADA reach: Operating handle no higher than 48″ above finished floor (ADA §308)
- Corridor clearance: Does not reduce the IBC minimum corridor width (generally 44″, 36″ for occupant loads under 50) and protrudes no more than 4″ (ADA §307.2)
- Fire egress: Does not block any designated fire egress path
- Visibility: ISO 7010 above-cabinet sign + flag sign + wayfinding at decision points within 50 ft
Anti-theft considerations
Public-access AEDs are stolen at a non-trivial rate, a $1,500+ device in a high-foot-traffic location attracts opportunistic theft. Mitigations:
- Alarmed cabinets (80 to 90 dB strobe + audible alarm on door open)
- Tamper-evident seals
- Cellular-connected monitoring (premium cabinets, sends alert to facility manager when door opens)
- Security camera coverage of the cabinet (especially in outdoor or after-hours environments)
Why theft matters
The unmonitored AED problem
A non-alarmed AED cabinet in a public-access building has no way to alert facility staff if the unit is stolen, until the next quarterly visual inspection. A stolen AED is a silent failure mode: the cabinet looks the same, but the device is gone. Alarmed cabinets (or cellular-monitored versions) close this gap.
Outdoor cabinet specifications
Outdoor AED cabinets must address weather, temperature, and tampering, see our best outdoor AED guide for paired device picks. Key specs:
- Temperature range: -22°F to 122°F (heated cabinet required below 35°F)
- UV protection: UV-stabilized housing prevents plastic degradation
- Ingress protection: Cabinet typically IP65+, even if AED inside is IP55
- Locking mechanism: Push-to-open with alarm (not key-lock , bystander access required)
- Power: 110V AC for heater + alarm; some support cellular for remote monitoring
Practical install checklist
Replacing your AED pads or battery
AED pads and batteries expire on a fixed schedule whether the device is ever used or not, and they are the single most common reason an AED fails when it is needed. In the largest published analysis of FDA-reported AED events, 40,787 cases, batteries accounted for 23.2 per cent of failures and pads and connectors for 23.7 per cent, so 46.9 per cent of all AED failures are consumables (DeLuca et al., Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2012, PMID 21872969). Below is every current replacement part with its price and service life, verified against seller product data on 12 September 2026.
| Model | Adult pads | Battery | Pediatric option | 10 year consumable cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips HeartStart OnSite | M5071A $99.00, 2 years | M5070A $249.00, 4 years | Separate M5072A cartridge, prescription only | About $894 |
| Philips HeartStart FRx | SMART Pads II 989803139261 $89.00, 2 years | M5070A $249.00, 4 years | Infant/Child Key $139.00, reusable | About $854 |
| ZOLL AED Plus | CPR-D Padz 8900-0800-01 $230.00, 5 years | Lithium set of 10 $100.00, 5 years | Pedi-padz II $155.00, 2 years | About $330, the lowest we track |
| ZOLL AED 3 | CPR Uni-padz 8900-000280-01 $234.00, 5 years | 8000-000696 $201.00, 5 years | None needed, Uni-padz cover children | About $435 |
| Defibtech Lifeline | DDP-100 $75.15 | DBP-1400 $229.10 | DDP-200P $130.25 | About $530 |
| Defibtech Lifeline VIEW | DDP-2001 $83.05 | DCF-2003 $240.45 | DDP-2002 $136.40 | About $813 |
| HeartSine Samaritan PAD | Pad-Pak-01 $236.00, pads and battery in one cartridge | Included in the Pad-Pak, there is no separate battery | Pediatric Pad-Pak PAD-PAK-02 $279.00 | About $472 |
| Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 | XELAED001C $88.00 | XBTAED001A $495.00, 4 years | XELAED003C $127.00 | About $1,342, the highest we track |
| Physio-Control LIFEPAK CR2 | Quik-Step 11101-000021 $196.00, adult and child in one set | LIFEPAK CR2 lithium battery $341.00, about 4 years | None needed, the Quik-Step set covers children | Not published per part |
Prices verified against the public product data of AED Leader on 30 September 2026. Service life is the manufacturer figure where one is published; where it is not, check the expiry date printed on the part itself. Ten year consumable cost is our own calculation from those part prices and service lives.
Three things owners get wrong
- Buying the wrong Philips pad. The FRx uses SMART Pads II, part 989803139261. SMART Pads III belong to the FR3, a different device. The OnSite uses M5071A and the two are not interchangeable.
- Assuming the pediatric part is optional. On a ZOLL AED Plus, Pedi-padz II cost $155.00 and last two years, which is about $775 across a ten year life. On a ZOLL AED 3 or a LIFEPAK CR2 the pads already cover children and that cost is zero.
- Tracking the wrong date. HeartSine combines the pads and battery into one Pad-Pak cartridge, so there is a single expiry to track. Every other model here has two parts on two separate clocks.
Full replacement schedule by model is on our AED pads and batteries page. If you are still choosing a device, the ten year running cost is usually a bigger number than the discount you are negotiating: see every AED brand ranked by price and ten year cost.
Recertified prices across all seven models
Recertified units are the same models under the same FDA premarket approvals, restored, tested and sold with a minimum three year warranty.
| Model | New | Recertified | You keep | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips HeartStart OnSite | $1,589 | $875 | $714 (45%) | AED Leader or Response Ready |
| Philips HeartStart FRx | $2,099 | $875 | $1,224 (58%) | AED Leader or Response Ready |
| ZOLL AED Plus | $2,082 | $875 | $1,207 (58%) | AED Leader or Response Ready |
| ZOLL AED 3 | $2,399 | $1,150 | $1,249 (52%) | AED Leader or Response Ready |
| HeartSine Samaritan PAD 350P | $1,411 | $875 | $536 (38%) | AED Leader or Response Ready |
| HeartSine Samaritan PAD 450P | $1,761 | $875 | $886 (50%) | AED Leader or Response Ready |
| Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 | $2,157 | $1,225 | $932 (43%) | AED Leader or Response Ready |
Prices verified 30 September 2026 against the public product data of both stores. Both list identical recertified prices, so buy from whichever fits your order size: AED Leader for one to four units, Response Ready for five or more and for compliance and fleet programmes. New prices are the AED Leader list price on the same date.
The honest risk. A recertified AED is a used device. The three year minimum warranty is what makes the saving worth taking. Read recertified versus new and how to choose a refurbished AED before you decide.
Pre-installation walkthrough
- Measure 48″ from finished floor to planned handle position
- Verify corridor width still meets the IBC minimum (generally 44″) after the cabinet is installed
- Confirm no fire egress conflict with facility manager
- Check existing lighting, verify cabinet visibility from 50 ft away
- Plan a flag sign for the hallway intersection visibility
- Plan a wayfinding sign at the nearest decision point
- Verify a power outlet within 10 ft if the cabinet is heated (indoor alarms usually run on a 9V battery)
- Coordinate with security for camera coverage (if applicable)
Cabinets, signs and mounting parts, priced 22 September 2026
The cabinet decides whether the device is found in the first minute. These are the parts that satisfy an ADA mounting height and a visible-signage requirement.
| Part | What it is for | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact AED cabinet with alarm | Indoor wall cabinet, audible alarm on opening | $135.15 | Check price at AED Leader or Response Ready |
| Compact AED cabinet with alarm and strobe | Loud areas where an alarm alone is missed | $160.65 | Check price at AED Leader or Response Ready |
| Large AED cabinet, non-alarmed | Larger devices and packaged kits | $135.15 | Check price at AED Leader or Response Ready |
| Philips surface mount cabinet | Surface mounting where recessing is not possible | $384.00 | Check price at AED Leader or Response Ready |
| AED wall sign | Corridor visibility | $44.00 | Check price at AED Leader or Response Ready |
| AED inspection tag, 5 pack | The written record an inspector asks for | $29.71 | Check price at AED Leader or Response Ready |
Every complete package we track already includes a cabinet, a sign and the inspection card, which is usually cheaper than buying the parts separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ADA-compliant height for an AED cabinet?
The cabinet’s operating handle must be no higher than 48 inches and no lower than 15 inches above the finished floor under the 2010 ADA Standards §308.
What is the ISO 7010 symbol for an AED?
ISO 7010 symbol E010, a green square with a white heart and lightning bolt. This is the universal international AED symbol used on signage above cabinets and at wayfinding points.
Are alarmed AED cabinets required by law?
Generally not required by law, but strongly recommended as best practice. Alarmed cabinets deter theft and immediately notify staff when the AED is deployed.
Can I mount an AED cabinet in a stairwell?
NFPA guidance recommends mounting adjacent to (not inside) stairwells. Stairwells have temperature swings, restricted visibility, and may have egress-path conflicts.
What’s the difference between surface-mount and recessed cabinets?
Surface-mount bolts to the wall (4 to 6″ depth into the corridor; ADA §307.2 caps protrusion at 4″ between 27 and 80 inches high). Semi-recessed has a partial wall cutout. Fully recessed sits entirely inside the wall cavity. Recessed options look better but require more installation labor and structural review.
Do AED cabinets need power?
Only if alarmed or heated. Basic mechanical cabinets do not require power. Most indoor alarmed cabinets use a 9V battery (replace annually); heated outdoor cabinets need a 110V outlet.
Do I need both a wall sign and a flag sign for the AED?
Best practice: yes. The wall sign confirms the cabinet location once you’re standing in front of it; the flag sign (perpendicular to the wall) makes the cabinet visible from down the hallway and at corners.
Get your team certified the easy way.
Sources & References
Disclaimer: Building codes vary by jurisdiction. Consult your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) before installation. This guide is informational, not a compliance certification.
