2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 61. Crimes and Their Punishment › Article 3E. Offenses Involving Explosives › §61-3E-1. Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Destructive device" means any bomb, grenade, mine, rocket, missile, pipebomb or similar device containing an explosive, incendiary, explosive gas or expanding gas which is designed or so constructed as to explode by such filler and is capable of causing bodily harm or property damage; any combination of parts, either designed or intended for use in converting any device into a destructive device and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled.
"Destructive device" does not include a firearm as such is defined in section two, article seven of this chapter, or sparkling devices, novelties, toy caps, model rockets and their components or fireworks as these terms are defined in section two, article three-e, chapter twenty-nine of this code, or high power rockets and their components, as defined in this section.
(b) "Explosive material" means any chemical compound, mechanical mixture or device that is commonly used or can be used for the purpose of producing an explosion and which contains any oxidizing and combustive units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packaging that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion, by detonator or by any part of the compound or mixture may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gases. These materials include, but are not limited to, powders for blasting, high or low explosives, blasting materials, blasting agents, blasting emulsions, blasting fuses other than electric circuit breakers, detonators, blasting caps and other detonating agents and black or smokeless powders not manufactured or used for lawful sporting purposes. Also included are all explosive materials listed annually by the office of the State Fire Marshal and published in the State Register, said publication being hereby mandated.
(c) "High power rocket" means the term as defined in National Fire Protection Association Standard 1127, "Code for High Power Rocketry."
(d) "Hoax bomb" means any device or object that by its design, construction, content or characteristics appears to be, or is represented to be or to contain a destructive device, explosive material or incendiary device as defined in this section, but is, in fact, an inoperative facsimile or imitation of such a destructive device, explosive material or incendiary device.
(e) "Incendiary device" means a container containing gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or derivative thereof, or other flammable or combustible material, having a wick or other substance or device which, if set or ignited, is capable of igniting such gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, or derivative thereof, or other flammable or combustible material: Provided, That no similar device commercially manufactured and used solely for the purpose of illumination shall be deemed to be an incendiary device.
(f) "Legal authority" means that right as expressly stated by statute or law.
(g) "Model rocket" means the term as defined in National Fire Protection Association Standard 1122, "Code for Model Rocketry."
(h) "Person” means an individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society or joint stock company.
(i) "Storage magazine" is defined to mean any building or structure, other than an explosives manufacturing building, approved by the legal authority for the storage of explosive materials.