ACG specifies storefront from our authorized partners — not whatever a distributor has on the shelf. For most Florida commercial work that means the ESWindows storefront line, with PGT for certain impact configurations, TGP where the code calls for fire-rated glazing, and Euro-Wall when the opening needs to move. Here's a straight comparison based on real project experience.
The Storefront Systems ACG Installs
1. ESWindows ES-8000 (Impact Storefront)
The ES-8000 is the workhorse of the ESWindows storefront line. It's a 5-inch-depth, pre-glazed, large-missile-impact storefront engineered in South Florida for HVHZ conditions, with an active Miami-Dade NOA. If you're building commercial in Miami-Dade or Broward, this is the first system to evaluate. ACG installed ES-8000 storefront at Gulf Harbour.
Strengths: Deep HVHZ product approval library, manufactured domestically for fast lead times, pre-glazed for cleaner field labor, and a complete Division 08 scope ACG can carry from submittal to closeout.
Considerations: The base ES-8000 has no thermal break — when energy code or LEED targets are tight, step up to the ES-8000T below.
2. ESWindows ES-8000T (Thermal Storefront)
The ES-8000T is the thermally broken version of the ES-8000 — a poured-and-debridged thermal break in the same 5-inch storefront platform. It carries its own Florida product approval and is the system to specify when whole-assembly U-value matters. Pair it with a Low-E insulated glass unit and it meets Florida energy code without a custom workaround.
Strengths: Strong thermal performance for an impact storefront, HVHZ-capable configurations, and an integral door adaptor so the entrance ties cleanly into the wall.
Considerations: Heavier and more involved than the non-thermal ES-8000 — specify it where the energy math actually requires it.
3. ESWindows ES-9500 (High-DP Impact Storefront)
The ES-9500 is a pre-glazed, high-design-pressure impact storefront in the same 5-inch depth class. When a project sits in a high wind zone and the spans are demanding, the ES-9500 carries the pressures that a standard storefront can't. It's the system ACG reaches for on coastal commercial where the engineer has pushed the loads.
Strengths: Highest design pressures in the storefront line, pre-glazed assembly, and NOA coverage for HVHZ configurations.
Considerations: Built for high-pressure spans — for ordinary interior or low-load openings it's more system than the job needs.
4. ESWindows ES-4518 (4.5-Inch Depth Storefront)
The ES-4518 covers the deeper 4.5-inch storefront market — the profile architects specify when they want a heavier sightline or need the depth for larger glass. It rounds out the ESWindows storefront range alongside the thermally broken, non-impact ES-4520 for interior and climate-controlled applications.
Strengths: Deeper frame for larger lites and a more substantial sightline, compatible detailing with the rest of the ESWindows storefront family.
Considerations: Confirm impact rating against the specific configuration — the deeper-depth family includes both impact and non-impact members.
5. PGT Impact Storefront
PGT's impact storefront line is the alternative ACG specifies when a project's approvals, glass build, or aesthetic point to PGT rather than ESWindows. As an authorized PGT installer, ACG installs PGT impact storefront and entrance systems with the same submittal-to-closeout scope control. It's a Florida-built, hurricane-zone-proven option that inspectors across the state know well.
Strengths: Florida manufacturing, broad impact product approvals, and strong recognition with GCs and inspectors statewide.
Considerations: Specify by configuration — confirm the exact NOA matches your frame depth, glass, and wind pressure.
Two more partner systems sit alongside storefront on most ACG projects. TGP supplies the fire-rated glazing — FireLite® and Pilkington Pyrostop® — whenever code requires a rated assembly inside or adjacent to the storefront line. Euro-Wall folding and multi-slide systems take over where the design calls for a storefront opening that actually moves, on hospitality and restaurant frontages. Glass comes from Aldora and entrance hardware from Allegion (Schlage, Von Duprin, LCN).
Head-to-Head Comparison
| System | Frame Depth | Thermal Break | Impact | Florida PA / NOA | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESWindows ES-8000 | 5" | No | LMI | FL PA + NOA | HVHZ commercial storefront |
| ESWindows ES-8000T | 5" | Yes (poured + debridged) | LMI | FL PA + NOA | Energy / LEED projects |
| ESWindows ES-9500 | 5" | No | LMI | FL PA + NOA | High wind pressure / large spans |
| ESWindows ES-4518 | 4.5" | Varies by member | Configuration-dependent | FL PA | Deeper sightline / larger lites |
| PGT Impact Storefront | Per series | Select series | Impact-rated | FL PA + NOA | Alternate impact specification |
What ACG Recommends by Project Type
- HVHZ / Miami-Dade projects: ESWindows ES-8000 first — the deepest NOA library in the storefront line — with the ES-9500 where the design pressures climb. Confirm the NOA matches your exact configuration.
- Standard Florida coastal commercial: ESWindows ES-8000, or the ES-8000T where energy code is in play. Both carry broad Florida product approval coverage.
- High wind / large spans: ESWindows ES-9500 for the highest design pressures, or the ES-4518 when the project needs a deeper 4.5-inch profile.
- Alternate impact specification: PGT impact storefront when the approvals, glass build, or detailing point to PGT instead of ESWindows.
- High energy performance (LEED, high HVAC efficiency): ESWindows ES-8000T with a Low-E insulated glass unit — the thermally broken storefront that hits whole-assembly U-value without a workaround.
- Fire-rated openings: TGP FireLite® or Pilkington Pyrostop® where code requires a rated assembly. Moving glass frontages: Euro-Wall folding or multi-slide on hospitality and restaurant scopes.
See our full manufacturer partners page for the complete list of systems ACG works with. Ready to scope a project? Use our scope engine to start the conversation. Need a Florida storefront installer? See our storefront installer page. For help writing the spec, read our guide on how to spec a commercial storefront system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best commercial storefront system for Florida?
For HVHZ projects (Miami-Dade and Broward), the ESWindows ES-8000 is the top choice — engineered for South Florida wind conditions with one of the deepest NOA libraries in the storefront market. Where design pressures climb, the ES-9500 carries the loads. The best choice depends on your wind zone, thermal requirements, and span.
Which storefront systems have Miami-Dade product approval?
The ESWindows ES-8000, ES-8000T, and ES-9500 all carry Miami-Dade NOA coverage for specific configurations, as do select PGT impact storefront series. Product approval covers specific combinations of frame depth, glass size, glass type, and wind pressure — verify your configuration is within the approved limits. Your glazing contractor should provide NOA documentation at submittal.
ES-8000 or ES-8000T — which ESWindows storefront should I specify?
Both are 5-inch impact storefronts. The ES-8000 is the standard workhorse; the ES-8000T adds a poured-and-debridged thermal break for energy-focused projects. Specify the ES-8000T when whole-assembly U-value matters — LEED, high HVAC efficiency, or tight energy code — and pair it with a Low-E insulated glass unit. For everything else, the ES-8000 does the job. In practice, specify by performance requirements and let ACG confirm the configuration against the current product approval.