Sample manual

Example Electrical O&M Manual

See what a finished Electrical O&M Manual from Project-OM looks like. The example below is based on a fictional project — Thornfield Commercial Fit-Out, Unit 4 Riverside Business Park — and shows the cover page, contents page and every section of the finished manual.

Cover page

Every manual opens with a cover page identifying the project, the client, the electrical contractor and the document date.

Electrical Operating & Maintenance Manual

Thornfield Commercial Fit-Out

Unit 4, Riverside Business Park, Riverside Way, Manchester, M5 3AB

Client
Hallcrest Construction Ltd
Electrical Contractor
Voltedge Electrical Services Ltd
Project Reference
HCL-2026-014
Document Date
14 June 2026

Contents page

Every manual follows the same six-section structure, so your client and main contractor always know where to find what they need.

Contents

SectionTitle
1Scope
2System Description
3Maintenance
4Manufacturer Product Data Sheets
5Test & Commissioning Certificates
6As-Built Drawings

Scope

Section 1 explains what the manual covers and lists the electrical works included in the project.

Section 1

Scope

This Operating & Maintenance Manual has been prepared for the works associated with Thornfield Commercial Fit-Out at Unit 4, Riverside Business Park, Manchester. The document is intended to provide the client, facilities team and maintenance contractors with a summary of the systems installed, product literature, routine maintenance requirements, commissioning records and record drawing information.

The project works generally comprise the supply, installation, modification and commissioning of the following services:

  • New low-voltage distribution boards (DB-LG1, DB-LG2, DB-SP1, DB-SP2)
  • General lighting and lighting controls to the ground and first floor office suites
  • Emergency lighting to escape routes, final exits and fire-fighting equipment
  • Small power distribution, including floor box outlets and kitchenette supplies
  • First and second fix containment and cabling throughout the demised area

Scope Exclusions

Works to the building's main LV intake, landlord plant and base-build fire alarm panel are excluded from this manual.

System Description

Section 2 describes each electrical system installed, with details of distribution, control and the relevant standards.

Section 2

System Description

General Lighting

The general lighting installation comprises recessed LED panels and surface-mounted LED battens throughout the office floor plates, controlled via a DALI lighting control system with PIR and daylight-linked sensing to open-plan areas. Lighting circuits are distributed from DB-LG1 (ground floor) and DB-LG2 (first floor).

Emergency Lighting

Emergency lighting is provided by self-contained LED luminaires with integral 3-hour battery packs, installed along escape routes, at final exits and over fire-fighting equipment in accordance with BS 5266-1. The system operates in non-maintained mode and was tested and commissioned prior to handover.

Small Power

Small power distribution comprises wall-mounted twin sockets, floor box outlets to open-plan desking areas, and dedicated supplies to kitchenette and comms room equipment. Circuits are distributed from DB-SP1 (ground floor) and DB-SP2 (first floor), each circuit protected by RCBO devices.

Maintenance

Section 3 sets out the recommended maintenance schedule for the installed systems.

Section 3

Maintenance

ItemFrequencyTask
Emergency lightingMonthly / AnnualMonthly short-duration function test and annual full 3-hour discharge test in accordance with BS 5266-1.
Distribution boards (DB-LG1, DB-LG2, DB-SP1, DB-SP2)AnnualVisual inspection, check tightness of connections and test RCD/RCBO protective devices.
General lightingAs requiredClean diffusers and replace failed LED luminaires with an equivalent specification.

Manufacturer Product Data Sheets

Section 4 lists each manufacturer product data sheets included, followed by a divider page and the source document itself.

Section 4

Manufacturer Product Data Sheets

RefDescriptionSource File
4.01Tamlite TP600 LED PanelTamlite-TP600-LED-Panel.pdf
4.02Ovia Inceptor Emergency LightOvia-Inceptor-Emergency-Light.pdf

Test & Commissioning Certificates

Section 5 lists each test & commissioning certificates included, followed by a divider page and the source document itself.

Section 5

Test & Commissioning Certificates

RefDescriptionSource File
5.01Electrical Installation CertificateEIC-TCF-001.pdf
5.02Emergency Lighting Commissioning CertificateELC-TCF-002.pdf

As-Built Drawings

Section 6 lists each as-built drawings included, followed by a divider page and the source document itself.

Section 6

As-Built Drawings

RefDescriptionSource File
6.01As Built Lighting Layout Ground FloorDWG-E-101.pdf
6.02As Built Small Power Layout First FloorDWG-E-205.pdf

Your manual is delivered as a single, clearly sectioned PDF — structured like the example above and ready to issue to your client or main contractor.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a real project?

No. This example is based on a fictional project (Thornfield Commercial Fit-Out) to show the structure and format of a finished manual without using real client data.

Will my O&M manual look exactly like this?

The structure and sections shown are exactly what Project-OM produces, but the content, system descriptions, maintenance schedule and appendices in your manual are built from your project's own documents.

What sections are included in a typical O&M manual?

Every manual includes a cover page and contents page, followed by six numbered sections: Scope, System Description, Maintenance, Manufacturer Product Data Sheets, Test & Commissioning Certificates, and As-Built Drawings. Your uploaded documents are appended in full within the relevant appendix section.

Can the manual be adapted to a specific format?

If your main contractor requires a specific template or structure, let us know and we'll do our best to accommodate it — this is something we continue to develop.

Ready to get yours done?

Send us your job spec, datasheets, drawings and certificates and Project-OM will compile a manual structured like the example above.

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