›

AED by Industry

AED by industry : the right device for your environment, not the brand ad budget.

A gym, a kindergarten, and a construction trailer should not buy the same AED. Each guide below matches device features to one environment’s risk profile, with placement guidance, quantity planning, applicable laws, and a manager checklist.

Match the AED to the environment, not the brand. Child-present facilities need pediatric capability like the Philips HeartStart FRx. High-exertion sites need real-time CPR feedback like the ZOLL AED Plus. Harsh sites need IP55-rated durability. Open your industry guide below, then confirm quantity with a timed walking drill.

Which industries does this hub cover, and what matters in each?

Every card opens a full buyer guide: top 3 picks with 2026 pricing, deployment zones, quantity planning, applicable laws, and a downloadable manager checklist.

Young athletes · Outdoor durable · Pediatric

AEDs for Sports & Athletics

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading medical cause of death in young athletes during exertion. Sideline-portable, IP55-rated units with CPR feedback for athletic trainers decide this category.

Electrical risk · Truck-mounted · Rugged

AED for Utility Workers

Linemen and gas crews combine electrical-contact risk with remote job sites where EMS arrival can stretch far past the survival window. Truck-mounted, drop-tested, IP55-rated units are the fleet standard.

Remote EMS gaps · Vehicle-mounted · Compact

AED for Transportation

Trucking, transit, rail, and maritime crews spend hours beyond a 3-minute response radius from any EMS unit. Compact, vehicle-mountable devices deployable by a single operator decide this category.

Pediatric · 3-min coverage · State mandates

AED for Schools

A growing list of states mandates AEDs in K-12 buildings, and the AHA program target is a collapse-to-shock time under 3 minutes anywhere on campus. Pediatric capability and lowest cost-per-building decide this category.

Untrained staff · Storefront · Chain fleets

AED for Retail Stores

Thousands of customers across every age group, served by staff with no medical training. Simple voice prompts, visible front-of-store mounting, and fleet tools for multi-location chains decide retail.

Front-of-house · Moisture-adjacent · Manager-led

AED for Restaurants

Large gatherings, older diners, and hot, wet back-of-house zones define the risk. Front-of-house visibility and moisture-resistant ratings matter more than premium clinical features.

Multi-floor · Self-test · OSHA aligned

AED for Offices & Workplaces

No general OSHA standard mandates AEDs, but 29 CFR 1910.151 requires first aid provisions and OSHA Publication 3185 endorses workplace AED programs. Elevator wait times make per-floor placement the real design constraint.

Tight budgets · Volunteers · Grant-funded

AED for Non-Profits

Community centers and outreach organizations buy on total cost of ownership, not features. Low consumable cost, simple volunteer maintenance, and grant-friendly documentation decide this category.

Tactical rugged · Manual override · Field-proven

AED for Military

Bases, training commands, and field units specify drop-tested, IP55-rated devices, with manual-override models for medic-level responders. Procurement runs through DOD contract vehicles with strict spec sheets.

Multi-shift · Plant-floor · OSHA aligned

AED for Manufacturing

Heavy physical work plus 24/7 shift patterns means coverage cannot depend on one trained person being present. Rugged builds, visible mounting, and per-shift responder training decide this category.

24/7 readiness · Front desk · Property fleets

AED for Hotels

Hotels run 24/7, often with one overnight attendant covering hundreds of rooms. Self-test reliability, front-desk retrieval times, and fleet management across properties determine this category.

OTC labeling · Voice-guided · Untrained

AED for Home

Roughly 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, and the rescuer is usually a family member with zero training. OTC labeling and plain-English voice coaching decide the home category.

CPR feedback · IP55+ · High exertion

AED for Gyms

SCA risk rises to roughly 17x during vigorous exertion. Real-time CPR depth and rate feedback is the deciding feature here, and several states specifically regulate AEDs in health clubs.

Mixed environments · Versatile · Any buyer

AED for General Use

Small businesses and mixed-use buildings need one device that performs everywhere: clear prompts for untrained rescuers, solid environmental rating, and pediatric capability where possible. Balanced cost-to-feature ratio wins here.

Rural EMS times · Barn-mounted · Harsh exposure

AED for Farms

Agriculture pairs heavy exertion and an older workforce with rural EMS response times that can run far beyond urban averages. A barn-office or equipment-room AED is often the only shock available in time.

Multi-zone crowds · Insurance · Staff response

AED for Entertainment Venues

Theaters, arenas, and festival grounds put thousands of guests behind gates, stairs, and crowd barriers. Zone-based placement with timed retrieval drills is the only honest coverage plan for these floor plans.

IP55 minimum · Drop-tested · Trailer-ready

AED for Construction Sites

High exertion, an older trade workforce, and dust, rain, and vibration rule out fragile devices. OSHA Publication 3185 endorses site AED programs^[3], and IP55-rated, drop-tested units are the only defensible spec.

Older congregants · Volunteers · Long warranty

AED for Churches

Congregations skew older and services run on volunteers, so the right device self-tests daily and stays quiet for years. Long warranty and low consumable cost beat premium features in this category.

Gaming floor · Hotel tower · Security response

AED for Casinos

Older guests, long dwell times, and around-the-clock operation concentrate risk on the gaming floor. Security teams make the fastest first responders, so cart-mounted units and multi-zone coverage decide this category.

Small staff · Branch fleets · Customer-facing

AED for Banks

Branches run with a handful of employees and no facilities team on site. Self-test reliability and prompts any teller can follow decide the category, with fleet tools for multi-branch networks.

14 CFR 121.803 · Terminals · Scale fleets

AED for Airports

Federal rule 14 CFR 121.803 requires AEDs on most commercial passenger aircraft, and major US terminals run public-access programs. Concourse-scale coverage and professional-grade fleets decide this category.

Which AED fits which industry? One table, every environment.

Featured picks reflect each guide’s current editorial verdict and 2026 US list pricing at authorized distributors. The full verdict, alternatives, and cost breakdown live on each industry guide.

Industry	Featured pick	2026 list	Why it fits	Typical deployment*	Guide
Schools (K-12)	Philips HeartStart FRx	$1,944	Pediatric key, no pad swap under pressure	1 per building + gym	Schools
Offices	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	Value pick, simplest untrained-user flow	1 per floor	Offices
Gyms & Fitness	ZOLL AED Plus	$2,021	Real-time CPR depth + rate feedback	1-2 per facility	Gyms
Churches	HeartSine 350P	$1,295	Budget pick, one Pad-Pak consumable	1 per sanctuary	Churches
Home	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	OTC labeling, family-proof voice coaching	1 per household	Home
Hotels	Defibtech Lifeline VIEW	$1,695	Color video screen for noisy, multilingual lobbies	2-4 per property	Hotels
Dental Offices	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	Compact, sedation-permit friendly	1 per practice	In production
Construction	Philips HeartStart FRx	$1,944	IP55, drop-tested, trailer-ready	1 per site/trailer	Construction
Restaurants	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	Front-of-house simple, manager-led	1 per venue	Restaurants
Manufacturing	Powerheart G5	$2,157	Daily self-test, 8-year warranty	1 per zone/shift area	Manufacturing
Retail	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	Untrained-staff friendly, chain-fleet ready	1 per store	Retail
Casinos	Philips HeartStart FRx	$1,944	Security-cart rugged, multi-zone fleets	8-15 per property	Casinos
Airports	ZOLL AED 3	$2,240	Touchscreen, program-scale management	Per concourse zone	Airports
Banks	Powerheart G5	$2,157	Self-test reliability with tiny staff	1 per branch	Banks
Entertainment	ZOLL AED 3	$2,240	Pro-grade for trained venue staff	Per zone, drill-set	Venues
Sports	ZOLL AED Plus	$2,021	CPR feedback for athletic trainers	1 per field complex	Sports
Transportation	HeartSine 350P	$1,295	Lightest, cab-mountable	1 per vehicle/hub	Transportation
Utility Workers	Philips HeartStart FRx	$1,944	Truck-mount rugged, cold-weather tolerant	1 per crew truck	Utility
Farms	HeartSine 350P	$1,295	Affordable rural coverage, IP56	1 per operation	Farms
Military	ZOLL AED Pro	$2,365	Manual mode for trained medics, pro-grade build	Per spec sheet	Military
Non-Profits	HeartSine 350P	$1,295	Lowest total cost of ownership	1 per facility	Non-profits
General Use	Philips HeartStart OnSite	$1,529	Best all-environment balance	1 per location	General

*Typical deployment is a planning estimate from published deployments and timed-drill practice, not a legal minimum. Confirm with the AED Quantity Calculator and a walking drill. Pricing: 2026 US list at authorized distributors.

⚡ Quantity planning

How many AEDs does your facility need?

The AHA program target is simple: a responder retrieves the AED and returns to the victim in about 3 minutes, proven with a stopwatch, not a formula^[2]. The AHA publishes no square-feet-per-AED coefficient, so treat every calculator output, ours included, as a planning estimate you validate with a timed walking drill on your actual floor plan.

Survival drops with every minute of delay before defibrillation, which is why placement beats brand choice in almost every deployment^[1].

Replacing pads and batteries on schedule is where most programs quietly fail. The pads and batteries guide covers expiry cycles by model, and new buyers should start at the complete buyer’s guide or the basics in what is an AED.

Go deeper before you buy

All FDA-approved models on one shop page, plus replacement pads and batteries by device.

The year’s category winners across budget, schools, rugged, home, and overall, with the scoring shown.

Deep dives on Philips, ZOLL, LIFEPAK, HeartSine, Cardiac Science, and Defibtech.

Start with how an AED works, manual vs automatic, and the maintenance checklist.

⚡ Editorial methodology · every guide

How we build every verdict: 4 primary sources , zero manufacturer money.

No manufacturer pays for placement and no manufacturer sees a verdict before you do. Each industry guide is rebuilt on the same evidence base, then pressure-tested against that environment’s real constraints. Every claim on this page traces to a numbered primary source.

Not sure which guide fits? Answer 5 questions.

The quiz matches your environment, training level, and budget to one specific model, with the reasoning shown next to the result. Free, no email required.

AED by industry: the questions buyers actually ask

Which industries are legally required to have AEDs?

There is no single federal AED mandate for private businesses. Requirements come from state statutes and sector rules: many states mandate AEDs in K-12 schools and health clubs, several state dental boards tie sedation permits to on-site AEDs, and 14 CFR 121.803 requires AEDs on most commercial passenger aircraft^[6]. The AED Laws by State tracker links each current statute.

How many AEDs does a business need?

Plan so a responder can retrieve the AED and return within about 3 minutes, then prove it with a timed walking drill^[2]. The AHA publishes no square-feet-per-AED formula. Use the Quantity Calculator for a planning estimate, then validate on your floor plan.

What AED features matter most across industries?

Four features decide most fits: pediatric capability where children are present, real-time CPR feedback for high-exertion sites, IP55-rated durability for harsh environments, and self-testing with a visible readiness indicator for facilities without dedicated staff. Every guide above scores its picks on the features that matter for that environment.

Does OSHA require AEDs in the workplace?

No general OSHA standard requires AEDs. 29 CFR 1910.151 requires adequate first aid provisions^[4], and OSHA Publication 3185 endorses workplace AED programs^[3]. More than 20 states mandate AEDs for at least one facility type, so check the state tracker.

How much does an AED program cost?

2026 US list prices for FDA-approved models run $1,295 to $2,450 per device at authorized distributors, before cabinets, signage, and consumable cycles. Pads and batteries add a predictable replacement schedule that varies by model. The Cost Calculator shows the multi-year math for your exact model and unit count.

Are all AEDs reviewed here FDA-approved?

Yes. Every model holds current FDA Premarket Approval, and each product page identifies its PMA family^[5]. We do not review gray-market imports or non-approved devices, and our methodology explains the scoring in full.

The numbers behind every guide on this page.

AED Best Brands is an editorial AED-review publication, independent of every AED manufacturer. No manufacturer pays for placement or sees a verdict early. Every statistic below links to its primary source.

350K+

~70%

3 min

~17x

References · primary sources

ClinicalAmerican Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, annual update. Circulation. heart.org statistics
ProgramAmerican Heart Association. Implementing an AED Program, 2023 guide. cpr.heart.org AED guide (PDF)
WorkplaceOSHA. Saving Sudden Cardiac Arrest Victims in the Workplace, Publication 3185. osha.gov publication 3185
RegulationOSHA. Medical Services and First Aid, 29 CFR 1910.151. osha.gov 1910.151
RegulatoryUS FDA. Automated External Defibrillators and Premarket Approval database. fda.gov AEDs
AviationFAA. Emergency Medical Equipment, 14 CFR 121.803. ecfr.gov 121.803
ClinicalAlbert CM, et al. Triggering of sudden death from cardiac causes by vigorous exertion. NEJM. 2000;343:1355-1361. nejm.org

Updated · July 2026 Review methodology Medical Advisory Board AED Laws by State Buyer’s Guide AED Resource Library

Tier B+ Brands

Every model we review is FDA-approved via premarket approval.

Industrial + field

Best AED for Schools 2026