The Chair of Structures and Structural Design of the RWTH Aachen University, in cooperation with the Institute of Building Materials Research Aachen (ibac) and SPAX® International, has developed timber connections using self-tapping screws as reinforcing and joining elements. The focus was put on rigid frame corners that achieved high load-bearing capacities for both negative and positive bending moments. Due to the high utilisation rate of the selftapping screws the long-term load-bearing behaviour was examined in natural outdoor climate of service class 2. The measured creep factors significantly exceeded the values for timber structures given in EC 5 and gave rise to more detailed examination of the creep behaviour.