Best practice - engineering bricks and standard facing bricks

[Lincolnshire Ian]

We are building a house where the finished floor level will be 450mm above ground level. 

We plan to use several courses of engineering bricks, with standard facing bricks above.

Am I correct in assuming that we only need engineering bricks to get out of the ground? Once we are above ground level, can we use standard facing bricks?

I have noticed that many newly built houses have engineering bricks up to the finished floor level. However, since our house is relatively high off the ground, we would like to start facing bricks below the finished floor level - does this sound okay?

[crispy_wafer]

we did Engineering bricks where above external ground level to dpc then facing bricks above dpc, below ground level was heavy concrete blocks.

[torre]

We've used facing below DPC, but you have to check their frost resistance rating. You're looking for an F2 rating.

[Russell griffiths]

Engineering for  at least 150mm above ground level to allow for water splash. 
 

I like the look of 2-3 courses of a darker brick at ground level then the face brick. 
 
450 is only 6 courses.