In order to avoid tearing off the plate at an edge, the distance from the centre of the rivet hole to the nearest edge of the plate (i.e. margin) should be

where d = diameter of rivet hole in mm.

Explanation:

Riveted joint:

A rivet consists of a cylindrical shank with a head at one end.

The terminology for Riveted joints:

Margin or Edge distance:

• The margin is the distance between the edge of the plate to the centre line of the rivets in the nearest row. 
• It is kept 1.5 times the diameter of the rivet.

Pitch:

• The pitch of the rivet is defined as the distance between the centre of one rivet to the centre of the adjacent rivet in the same row.

Additional Information

Transverse pitch (pb):

• Transverse pitch is also called back pitch or row pitch.
• It is the distance between two consecutive rows of the rivet on the same plate.

Diagonal pitch (pd):

Diagonal pitch is the distance between the centre of one rivet to the centre of the adjacent rivet located in the adjacent row.