2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-FIVE - Internal Security (§§ 1 — 3356) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 1973) › PART V - Regulation of Firearms, Explosives, and Other Dangerous Devices (§§ 411-454 — 593) › Chapter 59 - Explosives Act (§§ 561 — 593) › § 562 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms appearing hereunder shall have the following meanings:
(1) Explosive or explosives.— Any chemical compound or any mixture containing oxidizing, reducer and combustible substances or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packing that an ignition by heat, friction, concussion, percussion or detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause sudden decomposition with the generation of high heat and highly heated gases [such] that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects upon life, limb or contiguous objects; or any chemical compound or mechanical mixture containing any oxidizing and reducer and combustible or other ingredients or any substance that by itself or mixed with another may become inflammable, no matter the quantities or proportions such chemical compound or mixture contains that an ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion or detonator are capable of producing or starting a fire.
For the purposes of this chapter the following substances shall not be considered explosives: gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, turpentine, ammonium nitrate in its pure form, benzine, carbon bisulphide, ether, petrol ether, colloided nitrocellulose in sheets, or rods or grains not under one-eighth of an inch in diameter, and wet nitro starch containing twenty per centum or more moisture or wet picric acid containing or being in ten per centum or more moisture. It being provided, however, that for the purposes of §§ 586, 587, 592 and 593 of this title the term “explosives” shall include those substances where it is shown that the same are used or possessed for the intentions expressly provided for in §§ 586 and 587 of this title.
(2) Percussion cap or detonator.— Metallic tube containing a high explosive used for detonating or exploding an explosive less sensitive. There are two types of detonators: electric and nonelectric. The electric one is exploded by an electric charge. The nonelectric is ignited or exploded by a time device, by heat or any agent or chemical substance.
(3) Bomb.— An explosive substance or substances used within a container with an electrical, mechanical, or chemical device or a combination thereof to make it explode.
(4) Factory.— Any building or structure in which explosives or substances that may be used for the manufacture of explosives are totally or partially manufactured.
(5) Magazine.— Any building or other structure, other than a factory, used for the storing of explosives.
(6) Substances that may be used for the manufacture of explosives. — Any substance that the Superintendent may, upon prior study and promulgation of the regulations to that effect, deem as necessary or effective, together or mixed with one or other substances, to constitute an explosive, as such term is herein defined.
(7) Superintendent.— The Superintendent of Police of Puerto Rico or the person or persons whom he may delegate.
Any term herein expressed in the singular shall include the plural and any term in the plural shall include the singular.
History —June 28, 1969, No. 134, p. 396, § 2, eff. 90 days after June 28, 1969.