Background <p>There is an increasing demand for cast glass for load-bearing applications in the built environment. This material often contains bulk flaws; more so when for example waste cullet is used. A substantial obstacle to a wider application of such glass components is the lack of reliable methods for evaluating the effect of these bulk flaws on the mechanical performance of the material. Current standardized strength testing methods for glass focus on surface and edge characterization of thin, homogeneous elements.</p> Objective <p>This paper identifies existing destructive methods with potential for measuring the tensile strength of glass and other brittle materials; and assesses to what level they give information about the bulk strength in the presence of bulk flaws.</p> Methods <p>A literature review is conducted on existing destructive testing methods in use for brittle solids from various research domains and end applications. Existing methods are summarized, and their applicability for volumetric glass is critically assessed and discussed.</p> Results <p>The selected methods are classified, based on stress state, stress distribution and stressed volume, accuracy, consistency and verifiability, complexity and precision required for the test specimens, and the availability of the required test equipment. Subsequently, the various advantages and limitations of the tests are summarized.</p> Conclusion <p>Several recommendations are made. The direct uniaxial tensile test is recommended for testing bulk flaws under a uniaxial tensile stress state, while the ultrasonic tensile test is discussed as a promising alternative. For biaxial testing the sphere compression test is proposed. Further physical experiments are recommended to assess their reliability and practicality.</p>