The traditional test method for sulphide stress cracking, i. e. the NACE TM 0177, provides a frame of conformity and gives an index of susceptibility of the tested steels. It gives, however, very little information of direct engineering use. By the use of fracture mechanics testing it is possible to obtain more quantitative data for use in predictive life analysis, etc. The step-loading test method has been shown to produce reliable test results of K//I//S//C//C for sulphide-induced hydrogen crack initiation in a relatively short test time and with a minimum number of test specimens.