Defibrillators in Supermarkets and Shopping Centres: Rules and Best Practices

Shops and shopping centres fall under ERP type M, the French classification for establishments receiving the public that is dedicated to retail. As with other ERP types, the obligation to install a defibrillator follows a classification into categories from 1 to 5, based on the number of people who can be present at once. A hypermarket spanning several thousand square metres is usually classed in category 1 or 2, while a small neighbourhood store may fall into category 5.

French law 2018-527 and its implementing decree 2018-1186 set a phased timeline. The busiest large stores, already classed in categories 1 to 3, have had to be equipped since 1 January 2020. Category 4 establishments have been covered since 2021, and some category 5 ERPs since 2022. A shopping centre almost always exceeds these thresholds and has therefore been concerned since the first deadline.

In a stand alone hypermarket, the answer is straightforward: a single operator manages the whole site and installs as many defibrillators as its floor area requires. A shopping centre bringing together several independent retailers raises a different question, since each shop is its own establishment receiving the public, yet they share common areas managed by a landlord or a management company.

In practice, the most effective solution is to install one or more defibrillators accessible from the common areas, funded and maintained by the centre's management, alongside the devices that large anchor stores, such as an integrated hypermarket or a home improvement store, install themselves for their own floor area. This shared arrangement should be formalised in the commercial lease or the centre's internal rules, so everyone knows who maintains which device.

The table below summarises the thresholds that apply to shops and shopping centres under current regulation.

The defibrillator's location should let a bystander retrieve it and return to the victim in under three minutes. In a supermarket, this usually means a cabinet near the reception desk or the central checkouts, a spot every staff member knows and one that is generally visible to shoppers from the entrance.

Across several floors or in a large shopping mall, a single device is not enough to cover the whole customer journey. It is advisable to spread cabinets near major circulation points, escalators, central malls or dining areas, and to sign them according to the French order (arrêté) of 29 November 2018, with clear directional signage visible from the main aisles.

Cashiers, front desk staff and security guards are the most likely witnesses of a cardiac event on the shop floor. A short awareness session on lifesaving actions, which requires no medical qualification, allows them to recognise a cardiac arrest, alert emergency services and use the defibrillator with confidence, since the device itself guides every step aloud.

High staff turnover in retail and seasonal teams make it necessary to repeat this training regularly, rather than limiting it to a new hire's first day. A quick reminder during team briefings or onboarding sessions is enough to keep the whole site responsive.

Every defibrillator installed, whether it belongs to the centre's management or to a retailer, needs its own tracking: regular checks of the self test, electrode replacement every two to five years, battery replacement every three to five years, and replacement of the unit itself after eight to ten years of use. This maintenance remains the operator's responsibility, under article R. 5212-25 of the French Public Health Code.

Registration in Géo'DAE is mandatory for every device, including those installed in common areas, so emergency services can locate the nearest defibrillator when a call comes in. An up to date safety log, accessible to every retailer, makes checks easier and prevents a device from expiring without being replaced. Rental offers start at 50 euros per month excl. VAT with maintenance included, backed by a five year warranty, delivery within two to five working days and a quote within 24 hours.