A fuel cell stack assembly (410a, 410b, 410c, 410d) comprising: a first end plate; a second end plate; a plurality of fuel cells interposed between the first and the second end plates (414, 419); a spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d); a disc spring (450, 450a, 450b, 454c, 450d, 450e) or a stack of disc springs, each disc spring (450, 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d, 450e) having an inner diameter (451 a, 451b) and an outer diameter (452, 452a, 452b), interposed between the first end plate and the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d), wherein the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d) loads the disc spring (450, 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d, 450e) or the stack of disc springs at the inner diameter (451a, 451b) of the disc spring (450, 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d, 450e) or the outermost disc spring of the stack of disc springs, and a compression band (430, 430a, 430b) circumscribing the first endplate, the second end plate, the plurality of fuel cells and the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d), so that it circumscribes and tightly fits around the fuel cell stack assembly (410a, 410b, 410c, 410d), the compression band (430, 430a, 430b) urging the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d) toward the first end plate and second end plate, thereby applying compressive force upon the plurality of fuel cells, characterized by that the outer diameter (452, 452a, 452b) of the disc spring (450, 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d, 450e) or the innermost disc spring of the stack of springs contacts the end plate; and that the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d) is comprised of a resilient material; and that the width of the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d) is less than the outer diameter (452, 452a, 452b) of the disc springs (450, 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d, 450e), a first end plate; a second end plate; a plurality of fuel cells interposed between the first and the second end plates (414, 419); a spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d); a disc spring (450, 450a, 450b, 454c, 450d, 450e) or a stack of disc springs, each disc spring (450, 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d, 450e) having an inner diameter (451 a, 451b) and an outer diameter (452, 452a, 452b), interposed between the first end plate and the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d), wherein the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d) loads the disc spring (450, 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d, 450e) or the stack of disc springs at the inner diameter (451a, 451b) of the disc spring (450, 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d, 450e) or the outermost disc spring of the stack of disc springs, and a compression band (430, 430a, 430b) circumscribing the first endplate, the second end plate, the plurality of fuel cells and the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d), so that it circumscribes and tightly fits around the fuel cell stack assembly (410a, 410b, 410c, 410d), the compression band (430, 430a, 430b) urging the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d) toward the first end plate and second end plate, thereby applying compressive force upon the plurality of fuel cells, characterized by that the outer diameter (452, 452a, 452b) of the disc spring (450, 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d, 450e) or the innermost disc spring of the stack of springs contacts the end plate; and that the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d) is comprised of a resilient material; and that the width of the spring bar (440, 440a, 440b, 440c, 440d) is less than the outer diameter (452, 452a, 452b) of the disc springs (450, 450a, 450b, 450c, 450d, 450e),