Abstract: A braking device for the frictional braking of ropes or belts is described which includes direction changing or guiding structure made in the shape of a loop with at least 360.degree. bending to obtain braking friction, an inlet for the one rope part and an outlet for the other load-supporting rope part, and an attachment for a load-supporting device having a direction of force which is essentially opposite the direction of force in the load supporting rope part, whereby the ingoing rope part can be used to regulate the speed of the rope through the braking device. The braking device consists of two substantially identical halves which are fastened together to form a unit with complementally engaging faces. In the inner face of the one half there is made a groove which, together with an identically similar groove in the inside face of the other half, forms a guiding channel for the rope or the belt.