Gap Analysis
A Gap Analysis is a comparative review used to identify the "distance" between your machinery’s current design and the legal requirements of the EU. For North American manufacturers, this is often the first technical step after a Requirements Assessment. While your machine may be perfectly safe and compliant with US standards like NFPA 79 or ANSI B11, it may still fail to meet European Harmonized Standards.
This analysis typically focuses on technical discrepancies rather than just hazard identification. For example, it might reveal that your US-standard wiring colors (white for neutral) violate EN 60204-1 (which requires blue), or that your guarding relies on hazard warnings rather than the "inherently safe design" hierarchy mandated by ISO 12100. It also scrutinizes your documentation, flagging missing translations or inadequate circuit diagrams that would cause your Technical File to be rejected.
Conducting a Gap Analysis early prevents expensive retrofits. By catching issues like non-compliant interlocks or missing EMC Testing data before the machine leaves the factory floor, you ensure a smoother path to signing the Declaration of Conformity (DoC).
