Losses of preload in bolted connections due to coated faying surfaces. Bolted connections are preloaded to increase their resistance and stiffness. Preload losses during the lifetime of a structure might lead to loosening and consequently pose a risk to the serviceability or even the load capacity of the bolted connections. For this reason, the estimation of potential preload losses as well as their consideration during design and execution is an important issue. In the frame of the IGF research project 18711 BG ”Loss of preload of fatigue loaded preloaded bolted connections“ carried out by the Institute for Metal and Lightweight Structures (IML) of the University of Duisburg‐Essen in cooperation with Fraunhofer Research Institution for Large Structures in Production Engineering (IGP), Rostock, systematic investigations were carried out on preloaded bolted connections of categories B/C and E according to EN 1993‐1‐8. Herein, preload losses due to setting and fatigue loading were experimentally determined, evaluated and extrapolated to the intended service life. The investigations were based on different types of M20 bolting assemblies, tightening methods as well as clamping length ratios and surface treatments.