TIR SYSTEMS RECEIVES $11 MILLION PURCHASE ORDER FROM BP • CONTRACT INCLUDES THREE YEAR GLOBAL GENERAL PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TIR AND BP

Vancouver, BC ¡V TIR Systems Ltd., the leader in Solid State Lighting (SSL) systems, is pleased to announce a significant supply contract with one of the world¡¦s largest petroleum retailers, BP International Limited (BP). The three year Global General Purchase Agreement includes an initial 12-months purchase of TIR¡¦s LightMark„§ product to a total value of US $8 million (CDN $11 million) for BP¡¦s US operations.

BP is continuing its significant US re-imaging program and network expansion and TIR¡¦s LightMarkTM continues to be the product of choice for contour lighting on its building canopies. In addition to supplying BP with LightMark„§ green, the program for 2003 also calls for a supply of yellow, blue and red. The blue and red LightMark„§ is being used to delineate the canopies of BP¡¦s ARCO brand while the yellow is being used in the new building design for certain BP sites.

This commitment by BP increases the amount of product ordered by them from 240,000 to 500,000 linear feet. The majority of the revenue from this contract will be recognized over four fiscal quarters starting in TIR¡¦s fourth quarter of fiscal 2003.

¡§This contract is incredibly satisfying,¡¨ comments Leonard Hordyk, President and CEO of TIR. ¡§It represents a culmination of effort by our talented service delivery, product development and manufacturing teams, and more importantly is proof that the SSL business model works. ¡§TIR has been able to continue supplying BP as a result of LightMark¡¦s„§ competitive position in the marketplace which has been further enhanced due to the significant cost reduction program recently completed by our team.¡¨

TIR¡¦s LightMark„§ is a SSL product developed by TIR using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The product is ideal for the Corporate Identity market because of its operating benefits, which can result in savings of up to 90% on energy consumption. Other advantages include virtually no maintenance requirements, durability, weather resistance, and a long useful life potentially up to 100,000 hours or more.

This past January, TIR Systems was the recipient of the ¡§Innovator of the Year¡¨ award from the BP Global Alliance. TIR was one of only three suppliers to BP Global Alliance¡¦s 2002 Program to receive an award.

TIR Systems Ltd., a world leader in delivering specialty lighting systems, is building the foundations for tomorrow¡¦s lighting. Through sound innovation and proven technical capability, TIR is developing, designing and marketing the core technologies that will allow Solid State Lighting (SSL) to move to the forefront of mainstream lighting.

BP is the single, global brand formed by the combination of the former British Petroleum, Amoco Corporation, Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) and Burmah Castrol, which ranks as one of the world's largest petroleum and petrochemicals companies.

To find out more about TIR Systems Ltd. (TSX Venture Exchange: TIY), visit our website at www.tirsys.com

For more information please contact

Caren Holtby   
Investor Relations Manager
Tel: 604-473-2318   
Email: caren.holtby@tirsys.com         

Ann Gibbs
Media Relations
Tel: 604-473-2694
Email: ann.gibbs@tirsys.com