The building I'am speaking of is a health club and the GFI recepticles are being used at the sinks in the shower/dressing rooms.
What is wrong with using an extension cord? They are designed for temporary use. The could run the cord into another room even.
What is wrong with useing an extension cord? This is a commercial building and open to the public. People don't normally carry an extension cord in their gym bag.
If the Fire Inspector were to see people useing an extension cord and say a hair dryer he will not see this as a temporary use. He will see this as substitute for permanent wiring. If one guy dries his hair and uses a cord what's the next club memeber going to use? The same cord. Now this cord is replacing a permanent wiring need.
If people don't use electrical appliances at the location then no problem but if they are allowed to do so and an extension cord is provided as a substitute for permanent wiring then a receptacle would be needed.
I have been over this with a few Fire Marshals in my time. If I run a cord out to use a drill that's temporary. If I run a cord out for a fan that's going to be there all summer that's not temporary. If people use a cord as a permanent solution for drying hair at a public sink that's not temporary.
I do admit that you can look at this situation in many different ways but I think that if you are caught the fire inspector will write it up ( just to cover himself ) and tell you to remove the cord and then you can do whatever you want after he leaves. The liability will be on the owner.
This is a health club with shower, people will be drying hair and it's a very poor design not to have a receptacle there.