Knowledge center

Knowledge Center

Everything you need to know about commercial glazing, from cost guides to code compliance. Written for GCs, project managers and architects.

Getting Started

What Is a Glazing Contractor

What separates a commercial glazing sub from a residential glass shop - scope, licensing, submittals, and what GCs should expect.

What Is a Storefront Glazing System

The anatomy of a commercial storefront - framing, glass types, anchoring, and the difference between storefront and window wall.

What Is a Curtainwall System

How curtainwall differs from storefront, when it's required, and what GCs need to know about curtainwall coordination on mid-rise and high-rise projects.

What Is Window Wall

Window wall sits between storefront and curtainwall - floor-to-floor systems common in multifamily and mid-rise. This guide covers when and why to spec it.

What Is Division 08

Division 08 covers openings - doors, frames, hardware, glazing, and windows. A primer for PMs and supers who want to understand the full spec before bid day.

Costs & Pricing

How Much Does Commercial Storefront Glass Cost

Real cost ranges for commercial storefront in Florida - by system type, square footage, and project complexity. What drives the number up or down.

How Much Does Curtainwall Cost Per Square Foot

Curtainwall pricing in Florida: stick-built vs. unitized, typical $/SF ranges, what drives the premium over storefront, and how to budget for value engineering.

Commercial Glazing Lead Times 2026

Current lead times for storefronts, curtainwall, impact systems, and fire-rated glass in Florida - what changed post-pandemic, and how to protect your schedule.

Florida Code & Compliance

Florida Building Code Commercial Windows 2026

What the 2023 FBC (effective 2026) requires for commercial glazing - wind load zones, impact requirements, and what changed from the 2020 edition.

Hurricane Impact Windows Commercial Florida

Florida's HVHZ and Wind-Borne Debris regions explained - what's required, what gets tested, and how to verify a system is code-compliant before you spec it.

Impact Glass vs Shutters Commercial

When Florida code allows shutters in lieu of impact glass on commercial projects - and why most commercial GCs default to impact systems for compliance certainty.

What Is a Florida Product Approval

How Florida Product Approvals (FPA) work, what NOA documentation means, and how to verify a glazing system's approval before you award the contract.

Fire-Rated Glass Requirements Florida

UL-listed fire-rated glazing assemblies, hourly ratings, and how Florida Building Code integrates with IBC fire-protection requirements for commercial openings.

Commercial Glazing Inspection Florida

What Florida's commercial glazing inspection process looks like - from submittal review to rough-in to final inspection. How to keep your schedule intact.

For General Contractors

How to Choose a Glazing Subcontractor

The six questions every GC should ask before awarding the glazing scope - license verification, submittal process, punch-list track record, and more.

How to Get a Glazing Bid in Florida

What to send a glazing sub to get a clean, apples-to-apples bid - drawings, specs, scope inclusions and exclusions, and what a complete bid package looks like.

How to Read a Door Schedule

Door schedules decoded - hardware sets, frame types, glazing callouts, fire ratings, and how to catch scope gaps before bid day rather than during construction.

How to Spec a Commercial Storefront

Writing a storefront spec that gets you the system you need - glass type, frame depth, thermal performance, and the spec language that protects your project.

How to Hire a Commercial Glazing Contractor in Florida

The nine-point vetting checklist Florida GCs use on commercial work - license, bonding, NOA, insurance, certifications, references, safety, submittal capability, and field supervision.

Glazing Subcontractor Prequalification Packet

A working template for prequalifying glazing subs on Florida commercial projects - license, bonding, financials, safety, references, NOA, and manufacturer certifications.

Glazing Scope - Standard Inclusions and Exclusions

Line-by-line scope reference so GCs can compare bids accurately. Common sources of variance and what "included" really means on a Florida commercial glazing bid.

For General Contractors - ACG Procurement Reference

The single hub page Florida GCs use to vet ACG: 48-hour scope turnaround, bonding, OSHA, ISN/Avetta, seven manufacturer certifications, project size, and operating footprint.

What's in a Commercial Glazing Submittal Package

The eight sections of a complete submittal: shop drawings, NOA, anchor calcs, product data, sealant compatibility, samples, schedule, and QC plan.

Glazing Value Engineering - Approved-Equal Substitution Guide

Five VE categories that actually work on Florida commercial glazing: IGU make-up, frame depth, approved-equal manufacturer, hardware consolidation, sealant.

Storefront vs Window Wall

When to specify each on commercial projects - frame depth, structural support, deflection, code, costs, and applications.

Storefront Systems Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of approved commercial storefront systems carried by ACG.

Systems & Products

Storefront vs Curtainwall

The definitive comparison - where each system belongs, how they differ structurally, cost differentials, and how to know which one your project actually needs.

Commercial Glass Types Explained

Annealed, tempered, laminated, insulated, low-E, fire-rated - what each type is used for, how they're specified, and what drives the cost difference.

What Is Low-E Glass

Low-emissivity coatings explained - how they affect SHGC, U-value, visible light transmission, and Florida Energy Code compliance for commercial projects.

Best Commercial Storefront Systems Florida

ACG's system guide for Florida commercial projects - Euro-Wall, ESWindows, and the supporting specification network, with what to consider when evaluating systems for coastal and HVHZ applications.

Euro-Wall Sliding Glass Door System

A deep dive on Euro-Wall's large-format sliding glass wall system - thermal performance, structural requirements, and how ACG installed it at Waxin's on Clematis Street.

Storefront reference library

Technical references on storefront tolerances, water intrusion, maintenance cycles and cost.

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