Hydrogen is an attractive energy carrier that requires high effort for safe storage. For ensuring safety, they must undergo a challenging approval process. Relevant standards and regulations for composite cylinders used for the transport of hydrogen and for its on-board storage are currently based on deterministic (e.g. ISO 11119-3) or semi-probabilistic (UN GTR No. 13) criteria. This paper analysis the properties of such methods with respect to the evaluation of load cycle strength. Their characteristics are compared with the probabilistic approach of the BAM. Based on Monte-Carlo simulations, the available design range (mean value and scatter of strength criteria) of current concepts was exemplarily estimated. The aspect of small sample sizes is analysed and discussed with respect to the evaluation procedures. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.