ACG · System Reference · Updated May 15, 2026

Commercial storefront systems comparison

For Florida commercial storefront work, ACG installs systems from seven approved manufacturer partners — ESWindows, Euro-Wall, PGT, Allegion, TGP, Slimpact, and Aldora. The right pick depends on the project: ESWindows ES325 / ES420 is the workhorse across hospitality, multifamily, and retail. Euro-Wall E40 thermal serves luxury commercial where the thermal envelope matters. PGT WG700 is the impact-rated retail standard for HVHZ. Slimpact is the slim-sightline premium choice. Allegion integrates automatic entrances. TGP handles fire-rated where life-safety code overlaps storefront. This page walks through how to choose.

Side-by-side systems table

SystemFamilyFrame depthHVHZ NOATypical useCost tier
ESWindows ES325Aluminum / thermal storefront3.25"Yes (impact variant)General commercial — retail, restaurant, lobby, vestibule$$
ESWindows ES420Aluminum / thermal storefront4.0"Yes (impact variant)Higher DP / larger opening commercial$$
Euro-Wall E40Thermally-broken storefront4.0"Yes (impact variant)Luxury commercial, hospitality, restaurant$$$
Euro-Wall E68 impactFolding / multi-slide wall6.8"YesHospitality folding walls, restaurant patios, luxury commercial openings$$$$
PGT WG700Commercial impact storefront3.5"YesHVHZ retail, restaurant, light commercial impact$$
SlimpactSlim-profile impact storefront2.5" (typical)YesHospitality, luxury retail, premium commercial$$$$
Allegion automatic entranceHardware integrationn/a (hardware)n/aADA-compliant automatic entrance integrationadd-on
TGP fire-ratedFire-rated assemblyvariesWhere applicableUL 9, UL 10B, UL 263 fire-rated openings$$$$

Cost tiers are relative ($ = lowest to $$$$$ = highest within the storefront category). Project-specific bids vary with design pressure, glass make-up, finish, and quantity.

The seven approved manufacturer partners

ACG installs storefront systems from seven approved partners only. No improvised substitutions on bid day. Here's how each fits.

Workhorse · Most common

ESWindows (Tecnoglass) — ES325 and ES420

Aluminum and thermally-broken storefront from Colombia-engineered manufacturer, U.S. distributed. ES325 is the 3.25" deep workhorse. ES420 is the 4" version for higher design pressure or larger openings. Both available in standard, thermal, and impact-rated NOA-listed variants. ACG's most-installed storefront family across hospitality, multifamily, retail, and mid-rise commercial. Recent installations include Atlantic Fields, Panther National, Wild Blue Clubhouse, Illumia Fort Myers, and Causeway Building Bonita Springs.

Specify when: general commercial storefront work; the project doesn't have unusual aesthetic or thermal requirements; budget is conventional commercial.

More on ACG + ESWindows →

Premium · Hospitality

Euro-Wall — E40 thermal storefront and E68 impact folding wall

Premium thermally-broken storefront and folding glass wall systems. E40 is the 4" thermal storefront for luxury commercial and high-end hospitality. E68 is the 6.8" deep impact-rated folding/multi-slide/pivot wall system for hospitality interiors that open to outdoors. Featured installations include Fort Lauderdale (Euro-Wall throughout) and Gulf Harbour.

Specify when: the design intent calls for thermal performance beyond standard storefront, or when the project includes folding/sliding wall openings to terraces, patios, or pool decks.

More on ACG + Euro-Wall →

HVHZ Retail · Impact

PGT — WinGuard WG700 commercial impact

Florida-engineered impact-rated commercial storefront with current Miami-Dade NOAs for HVHZ. The WG700 family is a common spec for HVHZ retail, restaurants, and light commercial impact applications.

Specify when: the project is in Miami-Dade or Broward HVHZ and the scope is retail, restaurant, or light commercial; budget-tier impact requirement.

More on ACG + PGT →

Hardware integration

Allegion — automatic entrance integration

Allegion LCN automatic operators, Von Duprin panic exit devices, and Schlage commercial lock hardware integrated into storefront entrances. Critical on retail, hospitality, and ADA-compliant commercial entries.

Specify when: the storefront entrance includes automatic operation, panic exit, or ADA-compliant accessibility hardware.

More on ACG + Allegion →

Life-safety · Fire-rated

TGP — Technical Glass Products fire-rated assemblies

TGP fire-rated glazing assemblies (UL 9, UL 10B, UL 263) integrated into storefront where life-safety code requires fire-rated openings. Common on hotels, multifamily corridors, mixed-use, and public-sector projects.

Specify when: the storefront overlaps a fire-rated wall, exit access corridor, or any opening where IBC Chapter 7 / FBC requires a fire-rated assembly.

More on ACG + TGP →

Slim sightlines · Premium

Slimpact — slim-profile impact storefront

Impact-rated storefront with narrower sightlines than conventional storefront. The right pick when design intent is minimal visual obstruction without compromising hurricane code.

Specify when: hospitality, luxury retail, or premium commercial requiring HVHZ NOA and slim aesthetic.

More on ACG + Slimpact →

How ACG chooses the system

System selection follows a five-step decision tree. ACG runs this for every project at bid stage.

  1. Jurisdiction: HVHZ (Miami-Dade or Broward) → must be NOA-listed. Non-HVHZ Florida → FPA-listed acceptable.
  2. Design pressure: Calculated per ASCE 7 wind load + building exposure category + opening size. The required DP narrows the system list.
  3. Frame depth allowable: Some projects have wall-thickness or sightline requirements that rule out deeper extrusions. Slimpact for slim, Euro-Wall E68 for deep.
  4. Glass make-up: Acoustic, thermal, security, or fire-rated requirements drive specific glass specifications. The frame must accommodate the glass.
  5. Aesthetic intent: Architect-specified sightline width, finish color, mullion pattern, and visible hardware.

The output is a single manufacturer + system + glass make-up combination per opening. ACG documents the choice in the bid with the NOA / FPA reference, the design pressure, and the substitution rationale if the spec called for a non-partner system.

Common substitution scenarios

When a specification calls for a manufacturer ACG does not carry, ACG proposes an approved-equal substitution from the partner list. Common substitutions:

Each substitution preserves NOA / FPA compliance, design pressure, and visual sightline. ACG documents the substitution in the bid with side-by-side spec sheets for owner / architect review.

FAQ — commercial storefront systems

What's the best commercial storefront system for Florida?

No single best system. ESWindows ES325 is the workhorse. Euro-Wall E40 for thermal/luxury. PGT WG700 for HVHZ retail. Slimpact for premium narrow-sightline. ACG matches system to project at bid time.

Which storefront system is best for HVHZ?

ESWindows ES325 impact, PGT WG700, and Slimpact — all carry current Miami-Dade NOAs.

What's the difference between ESWindows ES325 and ES420?

ES325 is 3.25" deep for general commercial. ES420 is 4" for higher design pressure and larger openings.

What systems does ACG install for restaurants?

ES325 standard, Euro-Wall E40 thermal where envelope matters, Euro-Wall E68 impact for folding walls to patios, Slimpact for premium narrow sightlines, Allegion automatic entrance integration on main entries.

What systems does ACG install for retail?

ES325 for general retail tenants, PGT WG700 for HVHZ retail, Slimpact for luxury retail brands. Featured installations: Tomoka Town Center, Baron Shoppes at Tradition.

How does ACG choose which system to bid on a project?

Five-step decision tree: jurisdiction (HVHZ vs non-HVHZ) → design pressure required → frame depth allowable → glass make-up needed → aesthetic intent. The output is a single manufacturer + system + glass make-up per opening.

Does ACG always use the same seven manufacturers?

Yes. ESWindows, Euro-Wall, PGT, Allegion, TGP, Slimpact, Aldora. No substitutions outside the partner list.

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