Help/Advice needed on bricks please

[C C]

I don't know if there are any bricklayers on here, or DIY brick enthusiasts but I thought there was a chance that there might be a powerfully built company director of a builders merchants or building firm who might be able to offer advice

Please can you take a look at the photos below and tell us if this is normal. We ordered some red engineering plinth bricks from our local merchant but when hubby went to collect them yesterday the majority (over 90%) were cracked like the 4 in the photos below. Is this normal? The standard engineering bricks (same brand & merchant) we ordered for the same job are perfect and not a single one has a crack in it.






We don't want to use these if they are compromised and may break up (in cold weather etc) but equally don't want to refuse to accept the bricks and demand a new lot are ordered if this type of cracking is normal.

I know you lot are a helpful bunch so I told hubby I would ask on Pistonheads as someone was bound to know

Thanks!

[C C]

Plinth bricks

[C C]

rovermorris999 said:

I'm no expert but I wouldn't accept them. Water will get in the cracks and freeze with not good results.

Thanks rover that is what we were thinking but wanted a few other opinions, just seemed really odd that so many of them had the same cracking.

[C C]

Thanks Spudler.
These plinth bricks were special order through my local merchant and hubby went to collect on Saturday. They are still at the merchant and we will now be asking for replacements to be ordered! These were Cradley special bricks, are they generally ok? Any other recommendations for red engineering plinths (we need stretchers and external corners).
Thanks again.