The system is constructed with 20-30mm thick slips of actual clay bricks on a backing board, the gaps are pointed with mortar. Brick slips are used in modern construction because in most framed buildings traditional construction is not suitable: window openings are too large, balconies and piers make the detailing extensive and often require additional secondary steelwork to support the brickwork. This increases the amount of brick material along with the secondary steelwork which increase the building weight: subsequently foundations also need to be sized accordingly. Using full clay bricks purely as a cladding system therefore comes with a hugely unnecessary carbon footprint. Steel and concrete framed buildings are much more robust than in traditional construction as they have effective ties in all directions, many Victorian buildings lack these. The title of the post is a bit like saying "Be Warned, this mobile phone doesn't have a cord and it's not plugged into the wall!"