Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
An AED wall mount is a cabinet or bracket that holds an automated external defibrillator on a wall so it can be seen and reached quickly. Facilities managers, clinic staff and buyers use this page to see what a cabinet is, what the published accessibility numbers say about where it can hang, and how to read a manufacturer’s cabinet specification. Figures below come from the ADA 2010 Standards, one manufacturer listing and one university policy, each attributed and checked on 2026-10-30.
What an AED wall mount or cabinet is
A wall cabinet houses an AED on a wall in a visible, unobstructed place so that anyone can reach it. One university facilities policy describes the aim as an AED kept in “an unlocked cabinet” that is accessible to all employees, clearly visible and unobstructed, with use and reporting instructions included. Some cabinets also carry an alarm that sounds when the door is opened. For what the device itself is, see what a defibrillator is; for the wall signs that mark its location, see AED symbols and signage.
Cabinet types and what the sources say about each
The table lists cabinet descriptions from three published sources. It is not a full catalogue of products.
| Type or feature | What the source states | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wall surface mounted cabinet | Described with combination audible and flashing light alarms; the alarms can be connected to a building security system; large enough for additional medical supplies | Philips AED shop listing |
| Recessed or semi-recessed cabinet | The policy says a cabinet mounted with its leading edge 27 to 48 in above the floor must be recessed or semi-recessed so it does not protrude more than 4 in | UC Riverside EHSRM policy |
| Alarmed cabinet | All campus AED cabinets must be alarmed so the alarm sounds when the cabinet is opened and stops when it is closed (policy from July 2025); the policy specifies a 9-volt alarm | UC Riverside EHSRM policy |
The university rule is one institution’s policy, not a general legal requirement.
Mounting height and projection: the ADA numbers
Where a cabinet may hang is set by accessibility rules before it is set by preference. The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, published by the US Department of Justice, give these values:
| Rule | Value in the standard | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Protrusion into a circulation path | Objects with leading edges more than 27 in (685 mm) and not more than 80 in (2030 mm) above the finish floor shall protrude 4 in (100 mm) maximum horizontally into the circulation path | 307.2 |
| Unobstructed forward reach | High reach 48 in (1220 mm) maximum; low reach 15 in (380 mm) minimum above the finish floor | 308.2.1 |
| Unobstructed side reach | High reach 48 in (1220 mm) maximum; low reach 15 in (380 mm) minimum | 308.3.1 |
The UC Riverside policy applies these to its own cabinets: the wall cabinet “must not protrude more than 4 inches from the wall into walkways, corridors, passageways, or aisles”, and the handle sits between 15 in and 48 in above the finished floor.
Reading a cabinet’s dimensions
A manufacturer lists outside dimensions, and these are the numbers to compare against the 4 in projection value above. The Philips wall surface mounted cabinet is listed at 16 in (41 cm) wide, 22.5 in (57 cm) high and 6 in (15 cm) deep. The listing does not say which AED models fit inside it.
Set side by side, a 6 in depth is larger than the 4 in protrusion value in section 307.2. That rule concerns an object whose leading edge falls between 27 in and 80 in above the floor and that projects into a circulation path, so the mounting location decides whether it applies. This comparison is our reading of two published figures, not a compliance ruling; a local code official or accessibility consultant decides on a specific wall.
Alarms and what they do
The Philips listing and the university policy describe two alarm behaviours. The Philips listing describes combination audible and flashing-light alarms that can be tied into an internal security system. The UC Riverside policy requires an alarm that sounds on opening and stops on closing. Neither source says an alarm is required by law, and neither states a state-level cabinet alarm rule.
What goes in or with the cabinet
The UC Riverside policy requires the AED to have a spare set of electrodes, in the cabinet or under the lid, with electrodes pre-connected, and to include use and reporting instructions. The Philips listing says its cabinet can hold additional medical supplies. For checking the device on a schedule, see AED program management, registration and maintenance; the monthly check there covers the cabinet or case and any wall-mounted alarm. For a related emergency-equipment overview, see what a crash cart is. For choosing the device, see the AED buying guide. Related emergency items are listed under Emergency, Trauma & Crisis Response supplies.
Common mistakes
- Treating one university’s policy (alarmed cabinets, a spare electrode set) as a universal legal rule. It is that campus’s rule.
- Reading only a cabinet’s width and height. Depth is the figure to compare with the 4 in projection value.
- Placing the handle outside the 15 in to 48 in band published in ADA section 308.
- Letting stored items block the cabinet, against the “clearly visible and unobstructed” requirement in the UC Riverside policy.
FAQ
What are the AED cabinet requirements?
No single national cabinet requirement appears in the sources cited here. The ADA 2010 Standards limit projection into a circulation path to 4 in and set reach limits of 15 in to 48 in. Specific facilities may add rules of their own, such as the UC Riverside alarm and spare electrode requirements. Check with your state and local authority for anything further.
What size is an AED cabinet?
It depends on the product. One manufacturer’s wall surface mounted cabinet is listed at 16 in wide, 22.5 in high and 6 in deep (Philips, checked 2026-10-30).
Does an AED cabinet need an alarm?
One university requires it for every campus cabinet; the Philips premium cabinet is described with audible and flashing light alarms. The sources cited here do not state a general law requiring one.
What accessories go with an AED in a cabinet?
The university policy names a spare set of electrodes and use and reporting instructions. The Philips cabinet is described as roomy enough for additional medical supplies.
Sources
- US Department of Justice, 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, sections 307.2, 308.2.1 and 308.3.1, checked 2026-10-30.
- Philips, AED Cabinet, Wall Surface Mounted, checked 2026-10-30.
- UC Riverside Environmental Health and Safety, Appendix C, Facilities Services AED Placement Guidelines, checked 2026-10-30.
