ES-8000, ES-8000T and ES-9500: How to Build a Project-Specific Shortlist

If your schedule lists “ES-8000 or equal,” stop. Equal to which configuration? Thermal or non-thermal? What design pressure? What panel size? What Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval controls the opening? Shortlisting without those answers is how you get a late substitution.

ACG installs ESWindows systems across Florida commercial work. Brand context lives on our ESWindows partner page. Installer scope and HVHZ process live on the ESWindows Florida installer guide. This article adds a model-level decision worksheet. Specs below are limited to what we could verify on current public manufacturer and ACG pages as of 2026-09-12. Where a number is missing or conflicted, we mark it [UNCERTAIN] and tell you what to confirm.

What each model is (verified public description)

ES-8000

Manufacturer description: commercial storefront, impact-rated, designed for 9/16″ laminated glass, frame depth 5″, sight line 2-3/4″, LMI and SMI language on the product page with a note that certifications may not cover every configuration. Factory pre-assembled and pre-glazed is stated on the manufacturer page. Integral door adaptor and architectural finishes are listed. Source: eswindows.com/product/es-8000/ (accessed 2026-09-12).

Design pressure on that manufacturer page: not listed in the manufacturer body text we reviewed. Treat any specific DP, U-factor, or NOA for ES-8000 as [UNCERTAIN] until you pull the controlling approval and matching glass makeup. Our installer guide also flags a published-document discrepancy for the non-thermal ES-8000 and says ACG confirms the controlling NOA with the manufacturer per project.

ES-8000T

Manufacturer description: impact-resistant thermal storefront using pour-and-debridge thermal break. Standard 8000T listed as compatible with the ES-9000 impact door. Frame depth 5″. Listed maximum panel sizes include 60″ × 114″ and 48″ × 114″. Tested water infiltration 13.5 psf. Tested design load +90 / −120 psf. Stated U-value 0.48 and SHGC 0.24 on clear insulating laminated SB 70 only. Pre-assembled and pre-glazed stated. Source: eswindows.com/product/es-8000t/ (accessed 2026-09-12).

If the project needs concurrent thermal performance and impact, shortlist ES-8000T before you stretch a non-thermal storefront with add-on assumptions. Still match the opening to the tested size and glass that carry the approval.

ES-9500

Manufacturer description: impact-resistant storefront for the USA market, compatible with ES-9000. Frame depth 5″, sightline 2-1/2″, center glazed. Designed for 9/16″ laminated and 15/16″ insulating laminated glass. Listed maximum size 48″ × 120″. Large missile impact. Design load +120 / −120 psf. Water infiltration 18 psf. U-value listed as 0.44 (glass makeup for that U-value is not fully specified on the page we fetched; treat makeup as [UNCERTAIN] until the datasheet for your submittal is in hand). Pre-assembled and pre-glazed stated. Source: eswindows.com/product/es-9500/ (accessed 2026-09-12).

Decision process: what to check before you shortlist

Do not start with a brand preference. Start with the opening schedule and the structural criteria.

1. Approval geography. Miami-Dade / Broward HVHZ vs other Florida jurisdictions under Florida Product Approval. Confirm the active listing that covers your exact assembly.
2. Required design pressure and exposure. From ASCE 7 criteria on the drawings. Compare to tested design load for the candidate system and size. Do not assume one model’s DP applies to another.
3. Impact class. Large missile vs small missile by elevation and height. Confirm LMI/SMI against the approval for that configuration.
4. Thermal break need. Energy code, owner performance target, or spec language for thermally broken framing. If thermal is required, prioritize ES-8000T and verify U-factor for the specified glass, not a brochure sample.
5. Panel size and span. Width × height on the schedule vs published tested maxima. Oversized openings need engineering, not optimism.
6. Glass makeup. Laminated vs insulating laminated, Low-E surface, thickness. Approvals are configuration-specific.
7. Door integration. Entrance pairs and adaptors. Manufacturer pages list ES-9000 compatibility for ES-8000T and ES-9500; confirm hardware and sill details on shop drawings.
8. Finish. Anodized, painted, wood grain as available. Match warranty and coastal exposure expectations in writing.
9. Material-only vs installed. Who owns anchors, sealants, field glazing exceptions, and NOA submittal packaging.

Verified comparison snapshot (public pages, 2026-09-12)

Blank or [UNCERTAIN] cells are intentional. Do not invent values for bid day.

Sources: manufacturer product pages linked above; ACG hub and installer pages for process context.

Project-specific shortlist worksheet (template)

Copy this table into your bid file. Fill every row from drawings, wind criteria and current approvals. The “Shortlist” column should name one or two models only after the criteria are filled. This is a template, not a completed selection for any project.

How ACG uses this on bid day

We do not pick a favorite storefront and reverse-engineer the openings. We take your plans and opening schedule, map each opening to wind and impact criteria, then shortlist only systems that can carry a matching approval configuration. Where ES-8000 documentation conflicts across published sources, we confirm the controlling listing with the manufacturer before we lock the bid language.

ACG is a Florida CGC (#1531993) with offices in West Palm Beach, Naples and Tampa. Call (772) 486-7711 for product and assembly review.

Frequently asked questions

Is ES-8000 always pre-glazed?

The manufacturer product page states factory pre-assembled and pre-glazed for ES-8000, ES-8000T and ES-9500. That is a manufacturer claim for the systems as marketed. Field conditions, replacements and special sizes can change how glass is handled. Confirm on the shop drawings for your release. Do not treat “always” as absolute for every opening.

When should I shortlist ES-8000T over ES-9500?

When the spec or energy target requires a thermally broken storefront and the opening sizes and design pressures fit the ES-8000T tested envelope. If thermal is not required and the schedule needs the higher published design load and sightline profile of ES-9500, put ES-9500 on the shortlist and still verify approvals. Use the worksheet; do not default to a brand habit.

Where do I get the current NOA numbers?

From the active Miami-Dade Product Control listing or Florida Product Approval for the exact configuration, plus the manufacturer submittal. ACG coordinates that package on installed scopes. Numbers change; we do not freeze them into this article as permanent facts.